Anglia All Nations Powwow at Anglia Motel Fleet sees 150 gather in song, drum and dance to honour traditions of Native Americans
A week-long event brought together dance, drums and song in a celebration of life and Native American culture.
Anglia All Nations Powwow saw a gathering of 150 at the Anglia Motel in Fleet to honour an indigenous way of life and bring people from different backgrounds together.
Visitors could camp in teepees, watch storytelling through song and dance performances and a flag ceremony called the Grand Entry.
Organiser Nick Kenning said: “In native terms, powwow, roughly translated, means family gathering.
“We have to honour the natives that are living in the UK.
“There is a native heritage group on the base at RAF Lakenheath and they stay with us and come along for the day in June.”
People dressed in their regalia for the flag party which opens with an eagle staff that native culture views as a highly sacred and honoured animal.
Other flag bearers then join the ceremony which involves drums, singing and dancing in homage to keeping these traditions alive.
Mr Nick Kenning, 51, from North Walsham organises the event in Fleet twice a year and others in Cheltenham, High Wycombe and near Glastonbury.
He said: “It takes us all over the place and I am involved in the planning and getting the venue and event ready.
“We have a close connection to RAF Lakenheath.
“It is amazing, you get so emotional and you can feel the emotion from people and it is massively humbling.”
People can camp in teepees and explore the area and learn about the history of tribes and their ceremonies.
Mr Kenning said: “Flags are placed and everybody comes into the circle storytelling through dance.
“There is an honour song and we sing in five different languages.
“We have the American Air force base that has indigenous links.”
The powwows have been taking place for 15 years and Mr Kenning also has an important role as a drum keeper and singer which he took up in 2018.
He said: “I make sure that it is safe and not mistreated, respected and not misused.
“The drum team asked me to be a member which I was honoured to do.
“It is a very niche culture and way of life.”
Mr Kenning is keen for the powwows to continue and they raised funds of £335 for the MMIW charity (Murdered and Missing Indigenous Women).
He said: “It is not a hobby it is a way of life
“We don’t want the powwow to stop as there are not many happening and we are the only camping powwow in the UK.
“We encourage the young people to come into it and this weekend we had loads of new fresh people through the door and camping.”
Liking the beliefs and traditions of Native American tribes Mr Kenning is keen for awareness to continue in the same way that D-Day has been marked after 80 years.
He added: “I like their beliefs.
“People come from Hull, Wales, Southern Coast, Dorset and Devon.
“If we don't keep talking about the veterans and the natives it will die out and it is something that as a team we strongly believe in.”
The next powwow will be at the Anglia Motel, Fleet on September, Saturday and Sunday 7,8.
Tickets are £5 and under 16s get in free. Visit Anglia All Nations powwow on Facebook.
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