Native Americans
odd: label: Introduction
content: The focus for the 1975 Native Americans program was the Six Nations of the Iroquois Confederacy: the Mohawk, Cayuga, Oneida, Onondaga, Seneca, and Tuscarora, tribal groups whose government had been in effect for hundreds of years and served as a model for our federal system. The Grand Council of the Iroquois Confederacy directly influenced the creation of the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution of the U.S. Never before had the Native American Festival presentation been so closely interrelated to American history.

The Grand Council was discussed in workshops in the Learning Center where a history in photographs was on display. Members of the Iroquois are a major force in the lacrosse industry - from creating sticks to providing the athletes. Lacrosse was played in competition in the Native Americans area daily, and lacrosse stick making was part of the craft demonstrations along with silversmithing, wood and bone carving, basketry, and beadwork. Iroquois singing and dancing took place daily. Friday evenings, visitors were invited to participate in social dancing. The friendship dance, round dance, rabbit dance and stomp dance were demonstrated.

Native American food that was demonstrated and sampled included fry bread, corn and sassafras tea. Festival presentations traced the role of maize from crop through harvest; from food preparation in soups and breads, to the use of husks by craftspeople in toys, dolls and ceremonial masks.

In the Learning Center participants from various other Eastern Indian tribes recounted their influence on European settlers, beginning in 1620 when the Wampanoag tribe welcomed the Pilgrims (greeting them in English), provided food for them during the first difficult winter on the New England coast, and then shared the first Thanksgiving. Narragansett representatives spoke about the architectural contributions and history of their people. The Passamaquoddy from Maine, known for their intricate quill work and importance to the early settlers as trappers and fishers, also discussed their role in American history.

Other Native Americans who participated in discussions were from the Shinnecock tribe of Long Island, New York; Indian Mountain Lookout Intertribal Native Americans, New York; the Lumbee, Haliwa and Coharie from North Carolina; Catawba from South Carolina; Tunica-Biloxi of Louisiana; Chippewa of Wisconsin; and Potowatomi of Michigan. These participants were all members of the Coalition of Eastern Native Americans (CENA), an organization whose purpose is to identify and assist in the socio-economic and organizational development of Eastern Native Americans. CENA includes non-reservation, urban and federally recognized tribes and groups.

Lucille Dawson served as program coordinator, assisted by Thomas Kavanagh. The multi-year program was shaped by the Native Americans Advisory Group, including Alfonso Ortiz, Louis Bruce, Dell Hymes, Rayna Green, Clydia Nahwooksy, William Sturtevant, and Barre Toelken.
label: Participants
content: Six Nations, Iroquois participants

Cayuga

Sam Crogan, lacrosse player

Alisa Mike, dancer

Nancy Poodry, bead worker

Bill Printup, lacrosse player

Dean Printup, lacrosse player

Elwood Printup, lacrosse player

Gene Printup, lacrosse player

Elizabeth Silversmith, cook

Mohawk

Mary Adams, basket maker

Mike Adams, basket maker

Elwood Greene, silversmith

David Hill, lacrosse player

Stanley Hill, bone carver

Woody Hill, dancer

Allan Jock, dancer

Marshall Joseph, wood carver

Isabelle Skye, cornhusk worker

Beatrice Thomas, dancer

Russell Thomas, dancer

Margaret Terrence, basket maker

Cam Wilson, bone carver

Marge Wilson, cook

Wanda Wilson, dancer

Oneida

Irving Chrisjohn, cornhusk worker

Mrs. Chrisjohn, cornhusk worker

Onondaga

Paula Babcock, dancer

Kevin Hill, lacrosse player

Martin Jimmerson, dancer

Angie Miller, dancer

Huron Miller, singer, discussant, Buffalo, New York

Barry Powless, dancer

Irving Powless, Sr., 1906-1985, discussant

Irving Powless, Jr., discussant

Nancy Powless, dancer

Jacob Skye, dancer

Perry Williams, dancer

Debbie Williams, dancer

Ruby Williams, dancer

Guy Williams, dancer

Tim Williams, dancer

Seneca

Herbert Buck, singer

Lydia Buck, dancer

Sadie Buck, dancer

Herb Dowdy, 1919-1990, singer

Fidelia George, dancer

Helen Harris, dancer

Linda Harris, dancer

Steve Harris, dancer

Elijah Harris, dancer

Diosa Hill, dancer

Marty Jamerson, dancer

Darwin John, dancer

Edith John, cook

Coleen Johnny John, dancer

Kevin Johnny John, dancer

Mike Johnny John, dancer

Richard Johnny John, singer

Vera Miller, cook, bead worker

Ken Poodry, cradleboard maker

Eddie Scott, dancer

Elmer Shongo, 1929-1985, dancer, cook

Corbett Sundown, 1909-1992, discussant

Lloyd Thomas, 1946-, dancer

Marlene Thomas, dancer

Hazel Thompson, dancer

Phillip Thompson, dancer

Tuscarora

Joe Chrysler, lacrosse player

Orzey Cusick, lacrosse stick maker

Emma Greene, cook

Alvis Hewitt, 1931-1999, cook manager

Rick Hill, discussant

Nina Jacobs, dancer

Phillip Jacobs, lacrosse player

Bob Patterson, lacrosse player

Kevin Patterson, lacrosse stick maker

John Patterson, lacrosse stick maker

Helen Printup, cook

Mary Rickard, lacrosse stick maker

Ellene Rickard, lacrosse stick maker

Noreen Shongo, cook

Ron Smith, lacrosse player

Wilmer Wilson, 1925-2002, discussant

Coalition of Eastern Native Americans Participants

Aroostook Association

Terry Polchies, discussant

Catawba

Roger Trimnal, discussant

Chippewa

Delores Bainbridge, discussant

Elizabeth Cadotte, discussant

Haliwa

Linda Lynch, discussant

Archibald Lynch, discussant

Hassanamisco

Louise Wilcox, discussant

Indian Mountain Lookout Inter-Tribal Native Americans

Asenith D. Vogt, discussant

Lumbee

Arlene Locklear, 1952-1979, discussant

June Sampson, discussant

W.J. Strickland, discussant

Micmac

Tom Battiste

Mohegan

Virginia Daamon, discussant

Narragansett

Alberta Wilcox, discussant

Mary Brown, discussant

Potawatomi

Joe Winchester, discussant

Leroy Wesaw, 1925-1994, discussant

Shinnecock

Eva Smith, discussant

Alice Franklin, discussant

Tunica Biloxi

Rose Marie Pierite, 1900-1987

Wampanoag

Komi Oweant Haynes, 1958-, discussant
name: label: Collection Creator
content: Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage
setName: label: See more items in
content: Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1975 Festival of American Folklife
dataSource: label: Archival Repository
content: Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections
identifier: label: Identifier
content: CFCH.SFF.1975, Series 6
objectType: label: Type
content: Archival materials