Shinnecock Nation To Hold Annual Powwow on Labor Day Weekend

An East End tradition, the 77th annual Shinnecock Indian Powwow will be held on the Shinnecock territory once again this Labor Day weekend.

The event will begin at 3 p.m. on Friday and the gates will open each day thereafter at 10 a.m. through Labor Day.

As always, there will be drum and dance contests with more than $50,000 in prize money to be awarded, and a sprawling fair where Native American crafts and artwork will be available.

“It’s a celebration of our culture — our ancestral culture that has been going on for centuries,” said Charles Smith II, the tribe’s sachem and a member of its tribal council. “It’s a reminder that we are still here. We invite outsiders into our reservation because we want to remind everyone that we are strong in our culture and our traditions.”

The Powwow weekend serves as a reason for members of the Shinnecock Nation who do not live on the tribe’s territory, to return home, and it attracts members of other nations from across the country. Large crowds of spectators from Long Island typically turn out for each evening’s grand entry and dance contests.

“The Shinnecock Indian Powwow is one of the largest Native American gatherings on the East Coast,” states the tribe’s website. “As we dance upon the earth, we are reminded that our culture and love for one another is the resounding heartbeat that transcends all that we face; wherever we face it.”

The Powwow begins with the first in a series of grand entries of dancers from across the Americas at 7 p.m. Grand entries will also take place at 12:30 and 7 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday, and at 12:30 p.m. on Monday. Each day, the tribe hosts dance competitions, guest entertainment, prayers and ceremonial dances, and acknowledges visiting dignitaries and honors veterans.

The festivities conclude on Monday at 6 p.m. with the awarding of prizes to competing dancers and drummers.

The Powwow grounds will also play host to more than 100 Native American vendors, who offer everything from turquoise and silver jewelry to dream catchers. A wide variety of food is also available.

Tickets are $20 for adults and $10 for senior citizens, children and those with a military identification card. Children under the age of 5 are free. Cash or credit cards are accepted at the gate for entry. Free parking is provided.

The Powwow is a drug- and alcohol-free event. Pets, other than service animals, are not allowed on the grounds, and the flying of drones over the grounds is prohibited.

For more information, visit shinnecock-nsn.gov/annual-powwow.