Authentic Native Pow Wow
Have you ever wanted to experience Native culture up close? Mohican Reservation Campgrounds in Loudonville hosts a twice-a-year pow wow, welcoming all to share Native American culture and traditions. Spend your next day or two-day trip visiting The 29th Annual Great Mohican Pow Wow, July 12-14 (and another on September 20-21) at Mohican Reservation Campgrounds, 23270 Wally Road South, Loudonville, Ohio 44842.
“The Great Mohican Pow Wow is nationally renowned and was previously named one of the top 100 events in the United States by the American Bus Association,” said Christopher J. Snively, president of the Mohican Reservation, Inc. The pow wow is a gathering place for Native Americans, but it is open to the public for education, music, dancing, story-telling, drumming and crafts. The cost is reasonable for a full-day visit: $8 adults/$4 kids.
“Pow wows are celebrations that last for days and are remembered for a lifetime,” he said. “It is the coming together of Native tribes to honor ancestors and renew their traditions and heritage. It is a real cultural presentation — not a hobbyist show. Pow wows emphasize lifestyles, fellowship and competition among tribes.”
The 2013 event will feature performances by Old Bridge Singers Smoke Dancers in addition to a world champion hoop dancer and flute player,” said Snively. “Crowds will thrill to see Native American tomahawk-throwing, fire-starting demonstrations and powerful storytelling. There are music and dance performances, contests, customary foods and artisans. There will also be a high-honors tribute by Rolling Thunder Chapter 5 Color Guard and the POW & MIA Ohio Vietnam Wall and Program.”
Contemporary Native American art and craft are featured as well, he added. Creations by more than 40 traders, artisans and crafters will include pottery, bead working, knife making, silversmithing, quill working, antler works, fur trading, wood and bone carving, leather work, basket weaving, paintings and jewelry.
Native Cherokee Billy Lacy, and his wife, Sharon, of Jeromesville, Ohio, help coordinate the pow wows each year. Sharon works with the vendors and Billy helps with the events. “The event is held at and run by the Mohican Reservation Campground but it’s an intertribal pow wow,” said Billy Lacy. “Indians come from all over the U.S. and Canada.
“It’s a time to come together, see old friends and make new, eat and have fun. And we’re big on education. A lot of the general public doesn’t think they can come to the pow wows – but everyone is welcome!”
Visitors can stay at the campgrounds for convenience and walk to the Pow Wow, or stay nearby. For more information on the event, directions, and campground reservations, visit http://www.mohicanreservation.com, http://www.mohicanpowwow.com, call 1-800-766-CAMP (2267); or email powwow@mohicanreservation.com or mohicamp@bright.net.
You can also check out this site — www.ohiotraveler.com — where you will see a pow wow video. If you’re not up for camping, there are many other lodging choices in the Loudonville-Mohican area. For more information on the area, directions, and other accommodations, check out http://loudonville-mohican.com.
Ohio’s Amish Country
If you want your trip to be a real mix of cultural experiences (or you can save this one for another trip) you might wish to visit one of Holmes County’s nearby Amish communities. “The Mohican area (location of the pow wow) is on the western edge of Holmes County; the Amish area stretches across the county,” said Bonnie Coblentz, Marketing Coordinator of the Holmes County Chamber of Commerce & Tourism Bureau.
Holmes County is “home to the world’s largest Amish Community,” said Coblentz. “Berlin, Ohio, is the center of Amish cultural attractions, including the Amish & Mennonite Heritage Center – www.behalt.com – where visitors can learn about the history of the Amish and Mennonite Culture. Berlin is a darling little town with a main street lined with quaint gift shops. Just on the outskirts of Berlin is Heini’s Cheese – www.heinis.com – where visitors can sample about 50 different kinds of cheese all made from locally produced milk. If you travel a few minutes south of Berlin to the town of Charm you will see rolling hills dotted with Amish farms. Spring, summer, and fall Amish are out working in the fields, tending their gardens and hanging their laundry. Charm, as well as the towns of Walnut Creek, Mt. Hope, and Winesburg offer visitors shopping, dining, sightseeing, attractions, and lodging.
Ohio’s Amish Country is bustling with activity all summer,” said Coblentz. “Almost every weekend there is a benefit auction event where Amish and non-Amish gather to support a school, non-profit organization, or family in need. Many businesses offer special events and activities.
There are many quaint and charming small towns in Holmes County where you are likely to see and experience the Amish presence. And, although Amish generally prefer to live simple, private lives, some families are open to sharing their culture and lifestyle with others.
“The best way for a visitor to experience visiting an Amish home would be to contact Amish Heartland Tours,” said Coblentz. They offer tours from two-hour to full-day, depending on what visitors want to experience. They will take you to the homes of Amish artisans to learn about crafts (broom making, candle making, quilting, etc.), visit with the Amish family, and even enjoy a meal in the Amish home.
Prices vary depending on your interests. For more information about Amish Heartland Tours, contact LaVonne DeBois at (330) 893-3248 or visit www.amishheartlandtours.com. For more information about the Amish country in Holmes County, visit http://www.visitamishcountry.com.
Christine Klinger is a writer, photographer and visual artist who lives in Yellow Springs.
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