Shinnecock Powwow Canceled For 2021

What would have been the Shinnecock Indian Nation’s 75th annual Powwow this year has been canceled, yet another victim of the lingering coronavirus pandemic.

Traditionally, the powwow is held over the Labor Day weekend, drawing large crowds of attendees, but tribal Chairman Bryan Polite said the logistics of organizing the event, which also draws representatives of Native American tribes from across the country, were simply too difficult.

“It is not just put together in a couple of months,” he said. “It really is a year-long process when it comes to planning. We didn’t feel we could put on the kind of event people have become used to seeing over the years.”

He said the tribe is still working out the details of a one-day social gathering that would have the type of opening and closing ceremonies typically held during a powwow, but he said that if that event is held, it will be open only to members of the tribe and their guests.

“This would have been the 75th year, and that’s a big deal,” he continued. “But we are going to take this year to retool and come back bigger and better.”

With COVID-19 rampant last year, the tribe held a virtual powwow, but Mr. Polite said that proved to be unsatisfactory.

The annual celebration of tribal culture, which includes traditional music, dancing in ceremonial regalia, food, and native clothing and jewelry for sale, can draw thousands of visitors to the tribe’s Southampton land provided the weather cooperates.

Mr. Polite said the importance of the event as a major fundraiser for the tribe has lessened over the years. “It has morphed over the years from being our only income source, to becoming our least income source,” he said.

However, the powwow is an important source of income to tribe members who vend their wares during the event. “We are working on a program to alleviate their losses,” he added.

After a two-year hiatus, Mr. Polite said the tribe is definitely looking forward to the powwow’s return in 2022. “There’s no question it will be back next year,” he said.