Story by Amy Mathews Amos
Photographs by Jennifer Lee

In the weeks leading up to The Gathering, organizer René Locklear White called it “an experiment in humanity” and a “multi-cultural thanksgiving.” Her experiment included a gourd craft festival sponsored by the Virginia Lovers Gourd Society, a military color guard headed by the Native American Women Warriors, and a Harvest Dance with native dancers in regalia.  But at its core, The Gathering was about bringing people together – native and non-native – to celebrate “humanhood” as Locklear White’s co-organizer and husband Chris (Comeswithclouds) White put it.  “This is a little off the rails,” said Chris before the event.  “We don’t know what will come out of it.  It’s like planting a seed.”

On October 30 through November 1, that seed blossomed at the Clarke County, Va. fairgrounds.

Locklear White grew up in a Lumbee tribal community in North Carolina and recently retired as a lieutenant colonel in the U.S. Air Force.  Now, as a member of her regional Council of Elders, she and her fellow leaders felt a calling to hold a traditional Harvest Dance (a Pow Wow-like event) in her current community of Clarke County as a way to bring people together. “There is a saying in the Indian community that we are all related,” she said. “Not just related through genes as humans, but through the elements of the earth.”

Judging by the diverse, multi-cultural crowd in the grandstand on The Gathering’s second day, many non-Indians agree.  Master of Ceremony Dennis Zotigh, a native storyteller and cultural advisor to the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian, took the opportunity to educate that crowd about Native American culture.  He answered questions from the audience — such as how many Americans self-identify as Indians (about 5.2 million in the 2010 census, or 1.7 percent of the U.S. population); and how Native Americans traditionally used gourds (as utensils, decorations, toys, water containers and more).  But he also asked the sea of white, brown and black faces around him a few questions of his own:  namely, where had they come from?  Not surprisingly, most visitors hailed from Virginia. Some had traveled from out of state.  Yet a handful came from overseas – including some from England, Brazil, Germany and Lithuania — drawn to The Gathering as part of their American travels to experience a real Native American Pow Wow.

And experience it they did.  Zotigh and his co-host, American Indian civil rights leader Dennis Banks, engaged the crowd throughout the day.  They encouraged everyone to participate, particularly in the “intertribal” dances, when the grandstand cleared as people streamed onto the field to join hands and dance together. When the military color guard led by the Native American Women Warriors organization paid special tribute to military veterans, Zotigh called for “all warriors – native or not” to enter the arena and be honored as defenders of freedom.  Although American Indians fought the U.S. military repeatedly over the centuries to defend their land from European settlers, Indians are very patriotic today according to Zotigh.  He called Indian veterans “defenders of our lands, our life, and our families.”

Throughout the day, four different drum circles took turns accompanying the dancers:  the Yellow Child Singers; Storm Boyz of Virginia; Thunderbird Métis Nation Drum, Singers and Dancers; and the Zotigh Singers of Albuquerque, N.M.  Native dancers in regalia from New York, North Carolina, Minnesota and elsewhere danced to the drum beats in multiple dance categories, including grass dance, men’s traditional, women’s traditional, jingle dress, and fancy shawl.  Zotigh emphasized how different tribes have different traditions, but come together to dance to the beat of the same drum at Pow Wows.

One of those dancers was Clifford Dumarce, a grass dancer in magnificent white regalia decorated with blue and orange beading and topped with a crown of red and brown feathers.  Dumarce grew up in the Lake Traverse Reservation in South Dakota, but now lives in North Carolina after 13 years in the Marine Corps.  His Indian name is Walks into Battle (translated as zuya wicasta in his native language) and he was at The Gathering with his wife and two young daughters.  “We’ve been at a Pow Wow somewhere in the country every weekend since April,” said Dumarce.  One of his daughters was participating in the jingle dress dance and the other in the fancy shawl dance.  He came to The Gathering to “see a new place, see new people.”

Dancer A’lise Myers-Hall, a retired Air Force veteran and Shawnee and Lenape woman, viewed The Gathering as an opportunity to educate others about American Indian culture.  “We need to disavow what people see on television. We’re not John Wayne Indians,” she said.  She stressed the diversity among Native Americans and noted that “Pow Wows are one thing that brings us together.”  Myers-Hall epitomized that diversity herself, growing up in an immigrant community of Germans, Dutch, French, and Italians in eastern Pennsylvania.  Her grandfather was Jewish and to many, Myers-Hall would appear African American.  Her Indian name is Two Leaves Dancing, because she was born in November and as a tiny baby was mesmerized by the falling leaves.

Meanwhile, at the Gourd Festival in a nearby pavilion, Peruvian carver Percy Medina joined other artists to display his intricate designs of birds, fish and village life on elaborately decorated gourds.  Medina’s gourd art is on permanent display at the Infinity of Nations exhibit at the National Museum of the American Indian.

And out at the food court, Lithuanian travelers Jurgita and Mende Timinskas waited in line for Three Sisters Stew, made with corn, beans and squash.  The Timinskas are spending several weeks traveling around the U.S. but were drawn to The Gathering because they enjoy Native American Pow Wows – they’ve been to several already in Germany and the Czech Republic.

Everyone at The Gathering  – Peruvian or Lithuanian, native or non-native, veteran or not — could come together in the “round dance.”  Zotigh and Banks encouraged the crowd to form a large circle in the arena and hold hands.  Then, led by head male dancer Tatanka Gibson  the circle collectively stepped to its left, moving continuously clockwise until it circled within itself like a spiral, forming new coils as Gibson kept the line flowing, allowing participants to view the smiling faces winding past them as they moved towards the center.  When it could close upon itself no further, Gibson masterfully turned the twisting spiral of humanity in the opposite direction, leading his inner layer outward and bringing the 125 person-long chain behind him, everyone swirling in a new direction, connected to one another physically and visually.

Banks – known for his iconic quote “it’s a good day to die,” during the 1973 siege of Wounded Knee, S.D. as he fought for Native American rights  — pronounced the sunny autumn celebration at The Gathering “a good day to live.”

On this day, at least, the experiment we call humanity was a success.

Berryville, VA - The Gathering Harvest Dance is distinctive from the traditional Pow Wow Dance. The Gathering begins with oral histories, then select children and elders from our communities bring in a fall harvest of corn, squash and apples. The Spirit of The Gathering is sure to catch you as you watch elders helping our youth of all colors (red, yellow, black and white) connect to the land. (Preview Schedule)
    Native American Indians and non-Indians are invited from the four directions to participate and celebrate in this elevated spirit of Thanksgiving and humanity. Grounds open at 9 am Friday (education day), Saturday and Sunday.   

    The event is hosted by the Sanctuary on the Trail™ in partnership with the Virginia Lovers' Gourd Society 14th Annual Virgina Gourd Festival Oct. 31 and Nov. 1 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds in Berryville, Va.

Berryville, VA -- The first Tipi for The Gathering went up yesterday and exceeds 50’ in circumference and 19’ feet across at the base. Finding the right location for the Tipi was easy, thanks to Clermont Farm. Most of the time spent was shaving bark from 15 skinny poles ranging between 22’ to 26’ feet long.
    Chris White CEO of the Sanctuary on the Trail™ designed the Tipi based on the Sioux style Indian Tipi. Yesterday's installation was phase-1 standing up the Tipi. Phase-2 takes place later this month to wrap the Tipi with an original painting designed by Chris. At least two more Tipis are scheduled to go up at the Clarke County Fairgrounds as part of The Gathering.
     In partnership with Clermont Farm Tait Golightly, Chris White installed this first Native American Indian Tipi at the intersection of Highway 7 and Berryville Main Street on the corner of Clermont Farm on Tues. Sept. 15. Volunteers Patrick Skelley of Front Royal VA, Stuart Harrison of Boyce VA and Rene' Locklear White president of Sanctuary on the Trail™ helped.
    The Tipi installation is part of the behind the scenes to The Gathering, an educational celebration of agri-culture that includes traditional Native American Harvest Dance, 14th Annual Gourd Festival, Kidz Harvest Festival and much more scheduled for Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds.
    This Tipi project began months ago after meetings between Clermont Farm and Sanctuary on the Trail™
Bob Stieg, Tait Golightly, Mary Lou Rhodes and
Chris and Rene' White.
   Tipi is spelled Tepee and also spelled Teepee. They

are tent-like American Indian/Indigenous dwellings used mainly by Plains Indian Tribes. They are carefully designed to set up and break down quickly. As a tribe moved from place to place, each family would bring their tipi poles and hide tent along with them.

Berryville VA -- Attend The Gathering of Authors and meet author Philip Burnham as he presents his new Native American biography, "Song of Dewey Beard: Last Survivor of the Little Bighorn."
     Philip will present his book during a special Book Forum at The Gathering on Saturday, Oct. 31. Stay tuned to www.HarvestGathering.org for specific times and other author listings.
    The event also features author Dennis Banks co-founder of the American Indian Movement, traditional Native American Harvest Dance, Virginia Gourd Festival, Kidz Harvest Fest and much more.
    The Gathering is being held Oct. 30 - Nov. 1 at the Clarke County Fairgrounds located at 890 West Main Street in Berryville Va. 22611.

MEET THE AUTHOR
    Philip Burnham is a Term Assistant Professor with the Department of English at George Mason University in Fairfax, Virginia.

ABOUT THE BOOK
     Beard was not only a witness to two major battles against the Lakota; he also traveled with William “Buffalo Bill” Cody’s Wild West show, worked as a Hollywood Indian, and witnessed the grand transformation of the Black Hills into a tourism mecca. Beard spent most of his later life fighting to reclaim his homeland and acting as “old Dewey Beard,” a living relic of the “old West” for the tourists.

The Sanctuary on the Trail™ is hosting a Book Forum during The Gathering on Sat. Oct. 31 and Sun. Nov. 1. This is the first year for this Gathering of Authors. The Book Forum features writers who play an integral role in agriculture, gourd art, farming, Native American culture/humanities, sustainable living, nature, plants, diversity, and much more.
    Authors from across the region will rotate every hour or two selling and signing their works as well as carrying on dialogues with attendees about their books.
    The Gathering is an opportunity to meet authors in a casual, comfortable atmosphere.
  

     Authors interested in being part of this historic events and allowing attendees to peruse your newest releases, please contact Rene’ at the Sanctuary on the Trail™ email [email protected]. Booth space if free. Tables and sound system if provided. Authors retain all sales of their merchandise for this educational celebration of agri-culture.
    The Gathering is open to the public Admission is $5. Ages 4 and under are free. The event features a Harvest Dance and Virginia Gourd Festival a well as Trading Post Vendors and Living History Exhibitors at the Clarke County Fairgrounds 890 West Main Street Berryville, VA 22611.
     Authors interested in donating books to the auction or giveaways, please mail books to Sanctuary on the Trail PO Box 123 Bluemont VA 20135.

Berryvillle VA -- The Sanctuary on the Trail™ is hosting a Book Forum during The Gathering on Sat. Oct. 31 and Sun. Nov. 1. This is the first year for this Gathering of Authors. The Book Forum features writers who play an integral role in agriculture, gourd art, farming, Native American culture/humanities, sustainable living, nature, plants, diversity, and much more.
    Authors from across the region will rotate every hour or two selling and signing their works as well as carrying on dialogues with attendees about their books.
    The Gathering is an opportunity to meet authors in a casual, comfortable atmosphere.
     Authors interested in being part of this historic events and allowing attendees to peruse your newest releases, please contact Rene’ at the Sanctuary on the Trail™ email [email protected]. Booth space if free. Tables and sound system if provided. Authors retain all sales of their merchandise for this educational celebration of agri-culture.
    The Gathering is open to the public Admission is $5. Ages 4 and under are free. The event features a Harvest Dance and Virginia Gourd Festival a well as Trading Post Vendors and Living History Exhibitors at the Clarke County Fairgrounds 890 West Main Street Berryville, VA 22611.
     Authors interested in donating books to the auction or giveaways, please mail books to Sanctuary on the Trail PO Box 123 Bluemont VA 20135.

Thanks Val Van Meter and Winchester Star newspaper for helping others Catch The Spirit of The Gathering.

The Gathering
Welcomes Vendors and Exhibitors