The “Return to Mauch Chunk Pow Wow” was held over the weekend at the Mauch Chunk Lake Park, Jim Thorpe.

The pow wow was hosted by the Lenape Nation of Pennsylvania, a tribal group consisting of enrolled members whom are descendants of the Indigenous people of this area.

Adam Waterbear from Brodheadsville is one of the chiefs.

“This is an opportunity to share our culture with the larger population,” Waterbear explained. “Some people see signs or advertisements for a pow wow, and some people might get deterred from that, because they think it might be a sacred ceremony and don’t want to bother them. But, pow wows are meant for the public to come in.”

Over the weekend, there were vendors selling a variety of goods from jewelry to hats, sweaters, art work, plus food vendors. The pow wow included Native American music from the host drummers, the Gray Cloud Singers; plus other drummers including Medicine Horse, the Itchy Dog Singers, Stony’s Boys, and the Little Turtle Singers

“We have open dancing, category dancing, men’s traditional, women’s traditional, jingle dress, ladies shawl, and other specialty dances,” Chief Chuck DeMund, head of the pow wow, said. “This pow wow, the net proceeds benefit our tribal students with scholarships. We’ll have one or two students getting a scholarship this weekend.”

“We will also welcome Moccasins Across America, who will be here this weekend,” DeMund added.

The movement has been marching from California since May with the goal of reaching Washington, D.C., spreading Christian teachings while educating Americans on the historical plights of the native tribes around the country. The movement’s founder, Terri Clah, believes the two messages work hand in hand with one another.

“We converge because we carry a common ground which is prayer, spiritual healing, forgiveness and reconciliation,” Clah said.

Barry Lee Christy has been serving as the emcee of the pow wow since 2019. He spoke of the importance of holding a pow wow in the area.

“This is a very important location for the Lenape people,” Lee explained. “It’s nice that we can have a gathering, not just for the Lenape; but, for people from all nations and tribes.”

According to Lee, there is a variety of dances both days; grass dances, prairie chicken dances, folks from New York doing Iroquois social dances, and Aztec Dancers.

“We begin at noon with the Grand Entrance, then Chuck (DeMund) doing the opening prayer. Then we have the flag song, and the Veterans honor dance.”

The Lead Men’s Dancer was Matt White Eagle Clair. The Lead Ladies’ Dancer was Chris Mourning Dove Clair. Lead Veterans Dancers were Corey Macauley and Carrie Orellana Ortega