The First Annual Powhatan Native People Pauwau held October 6, 2007

The First Annual Powhatan Native People Pauwau was held October 6, 2007 at the Powhatan County Fairgrounds in Powhatan, Virginia! What a wonderful day! With a turnout of over 1400 people from all over Virginia, North Carolina, and the East Coast - spirits soared throughout the day! All who gathered were delighted with precious Native People from many different tribes. The fellowship and the remembrance of what our People had gone through and experienced was a day of honor. Some described the day as a very peaceful day. In our opinion it was.

The most precious part of the day to us was an answer to prayer. For Powhatan has been graced with a Bald Eagle - who has taken up residency in our county about 8 months ago. We have spotted this gracious creature several times and each time were in awe of it's strength and wisdom. Last week, as we prepared for our Pauwau, we both prayed that God would grace us with the presence of this Eagle on our Pauwau day. So it was confirmed by several people ... during our opening ceremony and tribute to "Blue Eagle" who passed over last week, this Eagle was hovering due west. We believe this was a sign from above that our Lord was truly honored at the thanks given Him that day.

For we are here because of our Creator, and we survive each day and learn and grow because of our Lord's hand of mercy and guidance.

God blessed us with beautiful weather - smiling faces - soaring spirits - and bountiful blessings on our FIRST Pauwau. May God's richest blessings be upon all who attended and participated.
Peace be with you our friends.

~ Curtis & Katrina Blankenship and children

A wonderful look back at School Day on Friday and Pauwau on Saturday ...


John Blackfeather handmade a bow from hickory for our son, Brady. What a special gift!	Breakfast at the County Seat ... we were the talk of the county!	Kountry Kids Day Care Center ... head dresses and full of smiles!

The children were in awe of the music and the dancing ... there were probably dancing the rest of the day! Eastern Bull Singers from Hillsboro, NC were our Drum for the Day ... what an amazing group of guys and gals!

Powhatan Elementary School - 2 performances ... the children were amazed and thrilled at the opportunity to learn so much and get to participate also!


Pocahontas Elementary School - 2 performances also! We believe the teachers had more fun than the children!				Fog begins to lift and our day begins ...

Falling Water Drum	Crowds are getting anxious	Temperatures hovering around 85 - beautiful blue skies, we couldn't ask for a better day!		John Blackfeather and Tuskegee Airmen

Let the ceremony begin			Posting of Colors

Mrs. Gloria Blankenship and our 8 month old son Aaron - Russell Holland looks on as well	Grand Entry		Leading our dancers for the day!	Head Lady Dancer Debora "Little Wing" Moore - What a special Lady at that! Debora exhibits such grace and glory.

Head Male Dancer - Douglas "Shadow Dancer" Logan	In honor we remember the sacrifices made by our ancestors.

In honor we remember those who sacrificed their lives for our freedom and our Country. Special Memorial Tribute to Fred “Blue Eagle” Wilson, from Salisbury, North Carolina. Born 1920, Passed on to Glory … Monday, October 1, 2007 Mohawk Indian & Tuskegee Airman Officer, highly decorated. In 2006 “Blue Eagle” was presented with Outstanding Combat Record & Inspired Revolutionary Reform in the Armed Forces by the United States Congress. Received the Congressional Gold Medal 1941 - 1949.

In honor we remember those who sacrificed their homes, families and livelihoods so serve in our Armed Forces to protect us.

In honor we dance and pray to remember those who have lived, died and remain today teaching others about our culture and our lives.

Darius Absa-rokee Carter Crow & Cherokee	Gift Ceremony - Debora "Little Wing" Moore and Powhatan County Officials	What a GREAT DAY!

Great fun for the young and old!			Who's the chief?	Food and fellowship!

Pinky Smith, Nansemond Tribe		Larry "White Eagle" and wife		Crow, Brady and Abbey
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Gorgeous bustles	Exquisite beadwork	Leading our Pauwau to a close ... what a fabulous time!	The weekend ends with Darius and Julia worshipping with us at church on Sunday!	Would you like to include your pictures??? Send them here!

Meet our 2007 Head Staff
	Master of Ceremonies John "Blackfeather" Jeffries Past Vice Chief Occaneechi band of the Saponi Nation. I am an Eastern Woodland Old Style Traditional Dancer. I have been an Emcee at Native American Pauwaus for over 20 years on the eastern seaboard. I create and demonstrate primitive weaponry which are also displaced at various museums throughout Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, & Maryland. I served in the United States Marine Corps/Airborne/Fleet Marine Force - Atlantic for 4 years active duty and 6 years reserves. I was involved in the Cuban Missile Crisis. I am married to Lynette C. Jeffries, who is a women’s traditional dancer. We have two children Sharn M. Jeffries, and Vivette Jeffries Logan. We have two grandsons, and 2 granddaughters who are traditional dancers.
	Arena Director Greg "Two Hawks" Stephenson Hampton, Virginia J'wan. My name is Nekdi Nethkwasweth'a (Two Hawks) in my language. I am an enrolled council member of the Nottoway Indian Tribe Of Virginia from the Haudenosaunee nation. I am of Nottoway and eastern Tsalagi heritage. I am a highly decorated veteran of Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. A proud Indian warrior and traditional dancer. I have spent twenty one years of combined active and reserve time as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force serving my land, Country, and fighting for my people. Oo-neh
	Head Male Dancer Doug Logan "Shadow Dancer" Hillsboro, NC I am of Eastern Cherokee-Saponi descent. I am a Northern Traditional Dancer. I have been dancing at Powwows for over 15 years. I have been Head Male Dancer for 6 years and Arena Director for 4 years. I am married to Vivette Jeffries Logan who is a women’s traditional dancer. We have two sons; Little Bear 9 years old who is a Grass Dancer and Little Wolf 4 1/2 years old is a Northern Traditional Dancer. I work for the Durham County Public Schools.
	Head Lady Dancer Debora "Littlewing" Moore *Pamunkey* Indian Reservation, King William , VA Debora Littlewing Moore is daughter and apprentice of Master Powhatan Potter Mildred Gentle Rain Moore. Debora is the Founding President of the Intertribal Women's Circle, a tax-exempt, nonprofit organization dedicated to the preservation of traditional tribal art forms and various other tribal traditions. The IWC was awarded the Unity Award in 2006 for its positive impact on diversity in the Hampton Roads area. Debora is an accomplished Southern Traditional Dancer and a member of the Red Crooked Sky Dance Troupe. She is also a curator for various annual art exhibits in VA and was co-curator for her tribal exhibit at the NMAI in Washington D.C. "I dance to stay connected and grounded to my spiritual roots as a Native American Woman. I dance to honor my ancestors memory and for those Elders who are unable to enter the dance circle. I pray for strength and unity among our tribal people. I thank my Creator for giving me the ability and passion to make positive contributions to my culture."
	Story Tellers Darius & Julia Carter I, Julia Ahwa-holeh Brown Carter, am Kesiah/Shawnee & Cherokee. I was raised in the Appalachian Mountains. I am a woman's tradional dancer. I handmake all my regalia. My Kesiah/Shawnee mother taught me how to sew & do crafts. I inherited my storytelling from my Cherokee father. He also taught me how to work in wood doing all sorts of crafts. I am an artist and paint using several different mediums. Designed an album cover for Southern Comfort and logo for the City of Burlington, NC. Last and not least, I am a born again Christian. My husband, Crow, and I have a Native American Christian Ministry. All the kids & adults know us as Eagle & Crow.
My husband, Darius Absa-rokee Carter, is Crow & Cherokee. He is a man's tradional dancer. He is from the mid-west. He makes all his regalia.. He is very knowledgeble when it comes to crafts of just about any kind. His mother is Crow and father is Cherokee. He also is a born again Christian. Darius is a Warrior. He earned his eagle feathers fighting for his country. He served in two military branches. The Army & Marines. He was a paratrooper also.
	Host Drum Falling Water Charles City, VA Falling Water is an incredible group of intertribal Native Americans based in Charles City, Virginia. Falling Water is recognized nationally for their traditional and authentic ability to capture the Native American spirit among the people at gatherings! You'll LOVE these guys!
	Guest Drum Eastern Bull Singers Eastern Bull Drum is a traditional, intertribal Native American drum based in Greenville, North Carolina. The group is composed of members of the Cherokee, Meherrin, Coharie, Lumbee, Monacan, Waccamaw-Siouan, Metis, Tuscarora, and Mattamuskeet tribes. http://www.easternbull.com

O’ GREAT SPIRIT, whose breath gives life to all the world,
hear me! I am small and weak, I need your strength and wisdom.

LET ME WALK IN BEAUTY, and make my eyes ever behold the red and purple sunset.
MAKE MY HANDS respect the things you have made and my ears sharp to hear your voice.
MAKE ME WISE so that I may understand the things you have taught my people.

LET ME LEARN the lessons you have hidden in every leaf and rock.

I SEEK STRENGTH, not to be greater than my brother, but to fight my
greatest enemy - myself.

MAKE ME ALWAYS READY to come to you with
clean hands and straight eyes.

SO WHEN LIFE FADES, as the fading sunset,
my spirit may come to you without shame