Trail and Native American Heritage Events

Upcoming Events

Public Planning Process for the Trail Begins
The National Park Service is holding a series of workshops throughout the Chesapeake Bay region to gather input from interested organizations and individuals about how the trail should evolve.

Currently, the schedule includes:

09/23/2008 - Jamestown, VA
09/24/2008 - Deltaville, VA
09/25/2008 - Alexandria, VA
09/30/2008 - Baltimore, MD
10/01/2008 - Seaford, DE
10/02/2008 - Havre de Grace, MD
10/07/2008 - Cape Charles, VA
10/08/2008 - St. Michaels, MD

Details and the most current list of workshops can be found on the National Park Service planning website.

Captain John Smith Fall Festival
On October 18th from 10 am to 4 pm the Marshy Point Nature Center’s Fall Festival will celebrate the 400th anniversary of Captain John Smith’s two voyages in the Chesapeake Bay. One of the most noteworthy small boat voyages of all time, a dozen men rowed and sailed a two ton “barge of discovery” some 2,500 miles in the summer of 1608. On exhibit will be a Native American wigwam and a replica of Smith’s barge, the Explorer, built by the Deltaville Maritime Museum. This festival will feature canoeing, rowing, films, food and many nature activities for people of all ages. Free admission. Call 410 887-2817 or go to www.marshypoint.org for details.

Throughout 2008
Join a John Smith Trail Expedition
Sultana Projects' John Smith Trail Expeditions is the first educational program designed specifically for the National Park Service's new Captain John Smith Chesapeake National Historic Trail. Utilizing a fleet of canoes and kayaks, the goal of the John Smith Trail Expeditions program is to encourage students to explore and learn about areas of the Chesapeake that are reminiscent of the Bay John Smith experienced 400 years ago. The program has a dual focus on history and environmental science and can accommodate groups of up to 20 people. Programs range from three hours to one week in length. Find out more on the Expedition website.

Native American Heritage

The National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. has special events throughout the year.

The following information has been drawn from the Broken Claw, 500 Nations, and Gathering of Nations websites

Eastern Woodland Indian Village Days
Jefferson Patterson Park, St. Leonard, MD
May-October
A glimpse of everyday life as it was around the Chesapeake Bay over 500 years ago, with demonstrations and hands-on opportunities. Various weekends throughout the year. Check their calendar.

Native Dance & Friendship Festival
Blue Marsh Lake Recreation Area, Leesport, PA
October 11 - 12
Pow wow and Eastern Social Dancing. Morningstar Drum, New Generations Drum. Allegany River Indian Dancers. MC Bill Crouse, Storyteller Dovie Thomason, Allen Cleveland (flutist). Native Games with audience participation. Native artists and craftspeople, foods. Educational
tent. 10am-6pm. Admission: Adults $6.00, Children(6-12) $3.00, under 6 free. Free Parking. Handicapped accessible. PUBLIC WELCOME.
Contact: email: gfiresong5@twcny.rr.com.

21st Annual American Indian Gathering Pow Wow
College of Beaver County, Monaca, Pennsylvania
October 11 - 12
Contact: John Goberish 724-775-8561 Ext. 156

Accohannock 15th Annual Healing of All Nations Pawuwau
Bending Water Park, Marion, MD
October 18 - 19
Heritage festival with traditional dancing, drums, food, crafts, and demonstrations. More info

Manassas Pow Wow
Prince William County Fairgrounds, Manassas, Virginia
October 18 - 19
Contact: 252-532-0821, email: powwow@vance.net

November
National American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month
sponsored by the Indian Health Service. Various celebrations, displays, and demonstrations throughout the month in and around Washington, DC. Other activities may be sponsored by the University of Maryland Office of Multi-ethnic Student Education.

6th Annual George Mason University Veteran's Powwow
Dewberry Hall, Johnson Center, George Mason University
Fairfax, VA
November 10
Doors open 12noon. 1st Grand Entry 1pm, 2nd Grand Entry 7pm. Event ends 10pm. Free Admission! There will be a Veterans Honor Ceremony at 5pm. If you are a veteran and plan to attend, please let us know so we can get a rough head count. We will be collecting items throughout November to benefit the Cheyenne River Reservation in South Dakota. There will be a box for donations at the powwow if you would like to contribute a new toy or school supply item. For more information, contact AIANSA president Donna Brimmer (dbrimmer@gmu.edu) or Meg Nicholas (703-244-5530). http://odps.gmu.edu Office of Diversity Programs & Services - 703-993-2705, email odps@gmu.edu, or http://odps.gmu.edu

First time attending a Pow Wow? Read up on Pow Wow etiquette or check outThe Pow Wow Trail: Understanding and Enjoying the Native American Pow Wow

Please send information about upcoming John Smith Water Trail and Chesapeake Bay-area native American events to kethridge_at_cbf_dot_org

On the Web

Capt. John Smith 400 Project—Shallop Reenactment Voyage
In the summer of 2007 a crew of 12 modern-day explorers, historians, naturalists and educators retraced Captain John Smith's incredible 1608 expedition. Traveling in a 28-foot reproduction of Smith's shallop, and living much as Smith and his men did 400 years ago, the shallop and her crew spent 121-days voyaging to the headwaters of almost every tributary of the Chesapeake Bay. Although the voyage is over, you can still view photos and video, read crew logs, and download educational resources from the Capt. John Smith 400 Project website.