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PRESS RELEASE
VITAL (Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for Life)
c/o Keith Wynn, Pow-Wow Chairman
Telephone: (804) 966-2448
Website: www.vitalva.org

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 6, 2006

VIRGINIA INDIAN NATIONS POW-WOW GATHERING

March 6, 2006 – Charles City, VA – In a joint announcement, Virginia Indian nations announced that they will gather on the Chickahominy Tribal Grounds, 8200 Lott Cary Road, in Charles City, Virginia; May 6-7, 2006 for their 4th annual joint spring Pow-Wow/Gathering. On this historic occasion, members of the Virginia tribes will give honor to their past and look to their future, as they recognize their historic impact on Jamestown 1607 and the planned Jamestown 2007 celebrations.

Grounds open at 10:00 a.m. on both days, with the Saturday, May 6 Grand Entry at 12:00 noon and Sunday’s Grand Entry at 1:00 p.m. The Pow-Wow/Gathering will feature Native American dancers, drummers, singers and cultural demonstrations.

The Virginia Indian Nations Pow-Wow is expected to attract visitors from all over Virginia, the surrounding states and Native Americans from across the country. The historic gathering of the Virginia tribes in May 2002 attracted more than 6,000 visitors, who enjoyed the dancing, cultural demonstrations and historical exhibits, as well as Indian arts and crafts.

M arvin J. “Many Horses” Burnette will return as Master of Ceremonies. Burnette, a career veteran and enrolled member of the Rosebud Sioux Tribe South Dakota, is nationally known for his traditional dancing and service as “MC” for many traditional pow wows. Burnette, who was raised on the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation, brings honor to his culture and historic commentary to the attending public, as he leads traditional Pow-Wows.

Frank and Marie LittleBear will serve as lead dancers for the spring Pow-Wow. Members of the Cree Indian Nation, the LittleBears are nationally known and have frequently appeared on television and in publications, as they honor their culture and traditions by presenting education programs and cultural exhibitions at schools, colleges, museums and festivals, as well as Pow-Wows. Frank LittleBear is an accomplished flute musician and plans to perform during the Pow-Wow; Marie “Dancing Feather” is a member of the Dance Troupe, “Red Visions.”

Clark Stewart, member of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe, will serve as the arena director. Several drums are expected to participate. The Indian Nations Warriors and Veterans Honor Color Guard will lead the Grand Entry each day. Bill and Susie Gingras, from the Abernaki/Eastern Cherokee Indian Nations, will present “backwoods survival” programs each day. Other cultural demonstrations are planned and Virginia tribes will have educational exhibits representing their past (pre-1607), as well as modern history. Tribal representatives will be on-hand to discuss their history and current initiatives with the public.

Invited dignitaries include representatives of the Jamestown 2007 British Committee, as they continue to work with the Virginia Tribes to plan a major festival in England in July. The Virginia tribes will be traveling to England to participate in the celebrations. Congressional dignitaries have also been invited.

Arts and crafts exhibitors will include Oneta, renowned wildlife artist who is known for her paintings on feathers, Tamsye Jefferson, Chickahominy Tribe, with her original beadwork, and variety of other Native American artisans. Attendees will be able to browse and select from a variety of traditional crafts including beadwork, jewelry, traditional items, leather, clothing, paintings, children’s items and much more. Food will be available for sale, including Indian fry bread and tacos, as well as hot dogs, hamburgers, fish and chips, and cold beverages.

The Pow-Wow/Gathering is open to the public. Gate admission $5.00/adults, and $3.00/children ages 6 and under and senior citizens. Proceeds will support VITAL, the Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for Life. VITAL is an organization of members of the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Monacan, Nansemond, and Upper Mattaponi Indian Nations.

For further information and directions to the Chickahominy Tribal Grounds, please visit VITAL’s website at www.vitalva.org. Other information is available from organizers, (804) 966-2448 or (804) 966-2760.

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