Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

by Press Release-Burlington County | Nov 4, 2007

In honor of Native American Heritage Month, Burlington County will host a free program featuring Native dancing, music, storytelling, demonstrations, and photo exhibit at the Mount Holly Library Saturday, Nov. 17 from noon to 4 p.m.

Sponsored by the Burlington County Freeholders and the Division of Cultural Affairs and Tourism, the second annual celebration will also include a lecture on tribal history and contemporary culture by Chief Mark Gould, Tribal Chairman of the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe.

The program offers a unique opportunity for the public to learn more about the traditions, accomplishments and rich ancestry of Native Americans.

A special highlight of the event will be performances by Justice and Trinity Norwood, teenaged brother and sister from Moorestown who represent the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Tribe. The reigning tribal princess, Trinity is an award-winning fancy shawl dancer and tribal presenter. Justice is an award-wining southern straight style dancer and water and war drummer. The siblings, who have represented their tribe nationally and internationally, will perform wearing colorful, traditional regalia.

The celebration will also feature war drumming and pow-wow style dancing, including a grand entry, honor song, and intertribal and specialty dancing by the Red Blanket Drum Group and the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Dancers with Native New Jersey.

Also planned are Native flute music, storytelling, beading and basket making, an exhibit of Native artifacts, and arts and crafts for children.

A photo exhibit on Native American culture and history by photographer Cara Lee Blume will be on display. An archaeologist and historian who has worked with and for American Indian communities in Delaware and New Jersey for 20 years, Blume views her photographs as a tribute to the people in these communities who have become her friends.

The Mount Holly Library is located at 307 High Street. Parking will be available in the Sacred Heart Church parking lot across the street. For more information, call the Division of Cultural Affairs and Tourism at (609) 265-5068.

Burlington County Native American Heritage Month Celebration Schedule
(Presenters will be available for Q&A throughout most of the Celebration)

NOON - Prelude (live or recorded drumming and/or flute).

12:15 p.m. - Introduction and basic history (multi-media presentation by Native New Jersey).

12:45 a.m. - Explanation of artifacts and cultural sharing.

1 p.m. - Lenape water drumming and social dancing (live by Native New Jersey).

1:30 p.m. - Storytelling and cultural sharing.

2 p.m. - War drumming and pow-wow style dancing (including grand entry, an honor song, intertribal and specialty dancing by Red Blanket Drum Group and the Nanticoke Lenni-Lenape Dancers with Native New Jersey).

2:45 p.m. - Questions and answers by (Chief Mark Gould and Native New Jersey)

3 p.m. - Beading and regalia presentation.

3:20 p.m. - Native flute presentation and music.

3:45 p.m. - Cultural sharing (by Native New Jersey).

4 p.m. - Postlude (Live or recorded drumming and/or flute).

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