Central Middle School’s 8 TH GRADERS VISIT WACCAMAW-SIOUAN POW WOW October 16, 2009

1. Central Middle School’s8TH GRADERS VISITWACCAMAW-SIOUAN POW WOWOctober 16, 2009

2. Grand Entry of Dancers The Grand Entry indicates the beginning of the Pow Wow.

3. Grand Entry of Dancers A specific song is sung by a designated drum to bring the dancers into the dance arena.

4. Grand Entry of Dancers The dancers enter from all sides of the arena. They move in a clockwise circle which represents the unity of life and the path of the sun across the sky.

5. Grand Entry of Dancers All stand in respect when the dancers enter the arena.

6. Exhibition Dancing Dancers showed students different styles of dance during exhibition. Some Native American girls are jingle dancers. The design for this dress was given to a sick elder. The Creator told him to make this style of dress for his granddaughter to wear. As she danced for him, he began to be healed because he followed the instructions of his Creator. The sound heard while these ladies dance is a peaceful, soothing sound.

7. Jingle Dancers Each Jingle Dress is adorned with 365 jingles.

8. Jingle Dancers In years past, these metal cones were made by elders rolling tobacco can lids with a special tool.

9. Women’s Traditional Dance This dance has two styles: the traditional stationary and the more modern, a slow-moving bouncing step, rhythmic dipping and swaying to the beat of the drum.

10. Women’s Traditional Dance The dancers wear dresses of buckskin or fine cloth and are decorated with beads, elk teeth, bones, and shells.

11. Men’s Fancy Dancers The Men’s Fancy Dance is anew dance, only thirty or forty years old. It’s dancers are young and exciting.

12. Men’s Fancy Dancers They wear wonderful, colorful, feathered outfits. This dance is also called the War Dance. Everyone was watching closely! He was amazing!!!1

13. Fancy Shawl The Women’s Fancy Shawl Dancers wear beautifully decorated long-fringed shawls over beaded capes, moccasins, and leggings.

14. Fancy Shawl Their shawls seem to dance along as the dancers twirl. Watch their fancy footwork!

15. Grass Dancers The Grass Dance began long ago with a young man who was lame in the foot. Longing to dance, he went up to the top of a small hill above the prairie to pray for guidance. As he looked out over the swaying grasses, he suddenly realized he should develop his own dance. He danced the same as the grasses moved. This was how the Grass Dance started.

16. Grass Dancers Today, men wear outfits with strands of yarn or ribbon hanging from the arms and waist. Their graceful dance is like the rippling grasses of the prairie.

17. Basket Weaving Ms. Freeman told students how Eastern Woodlands Indians used baskets to gather food grown, to store valuables, and to use as items for trade with other tribes.

18. Basket Weaving Pottery Mrs. Tammy Patrick showed students the task of pottery making. Mrs. Patrick talked with students about the Native American belief that everything comes from and goes back to the Earth, Our Mother. She made a coil pot and showed students different items from nature used to make designs on the wet clay. Corn husks, animal bones, leaves and sticks are used to create patterns before firing these items in ash pits to harden the clay and make the pots useful. Good Job! Bobby and Rasun. Looking Good Shaquille! Way to Go!! Demetrius. Some Central Middle students try the technique of basket weaving. As you can see, many of them are having a great time through product based learning.

19. Basket Weaving

20. Native American Beadwork Beadwork today uses all the traditional techniques. Most of the finest beadwork is still done only for relatives and gift giveaways. A lot of work goes into a large piece. To fully bead the yoke and upper sleeves of a fine Plains buckskin dance dress, it takes 20 pounds of number 12 seed beads and about a year of work. As much time is required to prepare a set of Woodland style mens’ dance regalia: beaded leggings, cuffs, vest, breechclout apron, strips and medallions to attach to head roach, bustle, and dance sticks.

21. Native American Beadwork Look how engaged all CMS students are as they listen about the art of Native American beadwork.

22. Oral History Reverend Michael Jacobs held the students attention with a story that has been passed down from generation to generation in the Waccamaw-Siouan tribe about how the bear lost his long tail. He encourage the students to resist peer pressure and be true to themselves and to their families.

23. Oral History Wow!! Reverend Jacobs has all the students attention.

24. Having Fun at the Pow Wow! Look at how much fun we are having!! Those smiles tell the story. What a good looking bunch!!1 Emily Fowler, Kirkland Bass, & Morgan Rooks

25. Reflection While attending this field trip, students enjoyed eating Indian fry bread, shopping for authentic Native American crafts, playing games and hearing music difference from that of modern culture. They learned that Native Americans are very proud of their heritage and ready share the customs and teachings of their society with others. Waccamaw-Siouan The People of the Falling Star

26. All Central Middle School 8th Graders enjoyed their day at the Waccamaw-Siouan Pow Wow. It was cold and rainy, but each and every student learned a tremendous amount about the Native American culture.

27. May the stars carry your sadness away,May the flowers fill your heart with beauty,May hope forever wipe away your tears,And, above all, may silence make you strong.Chief Dan George