(1913) The Skokomish, or Twana are known as "the people of the river," and their traditional land was the Hood Canal drainage basin in western Washington state/Oregon. The Skokomish are known for the quality of their baskets, and today many tribal members work in the logging and fishing industries.

Berryville VA - Children of all ages are invited to HEAR Native American flute and pow wow music; LISTEN to Native American oral histories; TOUCH a Native American drum, talking stick and furs; SEE Native American sacred fans; and SMELL Native American sacred herbs.
     The Clarke County Public Library in partnership with implementors for The Gathering (hosted by the Sanctuary on the Trail in Partnership with the Virginia Lovers Gourd Festival) are offering children of all ages this mini-harvest gathering July 27 at 10:30 inside the Barns of Rose Hill, Berryville, Va.
     This FREE preview event prepares children, families and teachers to register early for the Kidz Harvest Fest, a special school day event being held Friday, Nov. 30 during The Gathering an educational celebration of agri-culture at the Clarke County Fairgrounds. http://barnsofrosehill.org/

Barns of Rose Hill
95 Chalmers Court
Berryville, Va. 22611

The Chickahominy and Chickahominy Eastern Division are among several Virginia Indian Tribes that received state recognized in the 1980s. Learn more about them at The Gathering.

Chickahominy Tribe
Coarse Pounded Corn People. The Chickahominy Tribe is located in Charles City County, Virginia, midway between Richmond and Williamsburg, near where the tribe lived in 1600

Chickahominy Tribe Eastern Division
Last of the eight state-recognized tribes in Virginia to own land. The Chickahominy Tribe Eastern Division is located 25 miles east of Richmond in New Kent County, Virginia.

Take the Virginia Indian Heritage Trail. Read more online in this landmark publication created by members of the Virginia tribes and edited by Kareene Wood. Learn more at Virginia Humanities.   

Clarke County, Virginia – The Gathering council of elders announced today that Native American Indian Tatanka Gibson accepted their invitation to be Head Dancer for The Gathering Harvest Dance this fall.
     (See Story & Slide Show below

Tatanka Gibson

• 20 years old
  
• Haliwa-saponi Tribe
• Native American Indian Northern Traditional Eastern Dancer
  
• Woodlands War Dancer
• Grass Dancer
• Chicken Dancer

• Traveled the Native American Indian Circuit up and down the east coast and out west
• Powwowing since he was born
• Quote: "My personal goals are to have a good job have a house and family and continue to powwow and educate people about our rich culture."

Head Dancer
As the Head Male Dancer, Tatanka's reputation as an outstanding Native American dancer, knowledgeable of traditions and customs and a family man makes him the perfect male role model for others to follow during The Gathering Oct. 31 - Nov. 1, 2015.
     Tatanka's job is to continue to exhibit the outstanding traditional qualities he has shown in his life. His role includes being present throughout The Gathering and leading the dancers by being the first to begin each dance.

White House Youth Gathering: Native Youth Have First Lady and President Behind Them
Read more at http://indiancountrytodaymedianetwork.com/2015/07/13/white-house-youth-gathering-native-youth-have-first-lady-and-president-behind-them-161045

Clarke County, Virginia – The Gathering council of elders announced today that Native American Indian Andrew T. Tyler accepted their invitation to be Senior Veteran for The Gathering Harvest Dance this fall.
    The Elder Veteran reminds us to honor, respect and keep things sacred. (See Story & Slide Show below

 Andrew T. Tyler:

• Native American Indian ancestry is Cherokee and Pamunkey
• Southern Traditional and Eastern War dancer
• Dancing for about 5 years
• Drummer and singer
• Retired Air Force Master Sergeant with 20 years military service
• Quote: "I'd like to continue educating the public on our culture through our dances and songs. To show people that we are still here."

The Gathering
     The Gathering is a educational celebration of Thanksgiving for the harvest and for humanity. The event features a military veteran and uniformed services tribute. Andrew will help ensure the ceremony shows respect and honor to our elders, veterans, and active duty, as well as our uniformed services from local/regional fire and police departments.
Grand Entry
     Andrew will help lead Grand Entry along with the honor guard. Grand Entry is Sat. Oct. 31 at 12:00 noon and again on Sun. Nov. 1 at 1:00 pm. The Harvest Ceremony and Grand Entry officially opens the Harvest Dance. The Eagle Staffs and Flags will lead the procession followed by Andrew leading the veterans, elders, head dancers and dancers in each category or style.
Safety and Security
     Andrew's role as Head Veteran is to ensure that the Harvest Dance is conducted with respect and that all participants are safe. Other veterans and security personnel will support Andrew.

Clarke County, Virginia – The Gathering council of elders announced today that Native American Indian Louis Campbell accepted their invitation to be Arena Director for The Gathering Harvest Dance this fall.
     The Arena Director is a Pow Wow's Best Kept Secret.  (See Story and Slide Show below.)

Introducing Louis Campbell

• Louis was born in Baltimore, Maryland
• Majority of his family resides throughout North Carolina
• Currently lives in Baltimore with his wife and two children
• Followed his Native American Indian culture since he was born
• Proud to be a part of the Lumbee and Blackfoot tribes
• Dances Northern Traditional
  
• Danced at Pow-Wows and shows for the past ten years
• QUOTE: “My goal is to spread as much truth and knowledge about Native American Culture as I can, and to keep our traditions alive through our children.”

    The Gathering is an educational celebration of agri-culture and seed of Thanksgiving and humanity being planted in the Northern Virginia area Oct. 30 – Nov. 1, 2015. Dancers, exhibitors and vendors are encouraged to pre-register at www.HarvestGathering.org.
     Photo Slide Show photo assistance from: Tracy Yvette Roberts, Dorie Ann Lucas Powers, Davina Campbell, Coconut Sage ©Photos by Tracy Y. Roberts, Brenda Williams, Lisa Kneer, Angelo Locklear, Sherry Price Walsh and Mary Ellen Norrisey Hodges.

Arena Directors:
The Pow Wow’s Best Kept Secret
by Indian Country Today Network.com

Quotes from the original story HERE.

• "The arena directors are the hardest-working members of a dance’s head staff," Freddy Banderas, Apache Tribe of Oklahoma, refers to the AD as “the boss of the arena.”
• For Thomas Muskrat, Cherokee, the AD is “The marshal.”
• “Arena directors are important because they are the ones who guide the pow wow through its functions and procedures which, in turn, determines whether or not the pow wow itself is being carried out in a proper manner,” said George “Cricket” Shields, Pawnee, Otoe and Sioux. “They are the primary persons who will usually make the appropriate decisions--on the spot--about what takes place in the arena during a pow wow.”
• Arena Director keeps the circle moving. In addition to an ability enforce protocol, many AD’s are selected for their desire to lend an extra hand when needed.
• “I enjoy seeing the dancers come in,” said Charlie Soap, Cherokee. “You meet so many people. You’re friends with people. That’s what I enjoy. What I enjoy watching is the dancers—their grace, their beauty. The amount of work they put into the featherwork and the beadwork. The pride that they show that they’re Indian people.”
• “I think the common one was that, at one time, the arena director was like the whipman. The whipman keeps order in the arena. They make sure everything is apropos, no one’s cutting up, running around or misbehaving.” Joe Bointy, Comanche and Kiowa
• “You can’t be selfish,” said J.C. Pewo, Comanche and Kiowa. “You think of the people. You think of that drum. You think of everybody before yourself…You keep the pow wow going.”