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Moraviant Town – Thames Delaware celebrates 50th anniversaryth An annual powwow was held over the weekend, and longtime New Yorkers who played a key role in the first powwow held here helped celebrate.
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George Stonefish, who returned to his hometown for the weekend to attend the milestone event, said: “amazing.”
A champion fancy dancer as a teenager, Stonefish enlisted 51 years ago to teach his skills to local youth in First Nations communities.
When I was 14, I remembered returning to Moravian Town in the summer to teach local youth how to dance traditional dances.
“It was lively and many people came to class wanting to participate,” said Stonefish.
He also taught members of the community how to make bussels, decorative feather pieces that adorn their costumes so that they could be self-sufficient without having to purchase dance costumes.
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“It was my first summer job,” said Stonefish. “It was a good position and I really enjoyed working here with the people.”
He added, “The powwow has been pretty great since then.”
According to Stonefish, in the early days of Moravian Town powwows, many indigenous dancers also came from Michigan to help establish the event.
“They were already on the powwow scene and brought their understanding of powwows here,” he said.
Miranda Kril Huff, 28, from Moravian Town, has been involved in her home community powwow almost her entire life, including playing a key role in the event.
She was the head female dancer of the 50’sth had the same position of powwow and 40th Annual event.
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“I’m so honored that they chose me,” said Cryle-Huff.
Started dancing in powwow when he started walking, and participated in competitive powwow at the age of 13.
According to Cryle-Huff, her mother noticed her talent for traditional dancing and began making costumes for her to wear at competitions.
When asked what the powwow means to her community, Cryle-Huff said, “I think once a year we can all come together.”
She said dancers will come from all over Canada and the United States to participate.
“It brings good energy,” said Cryle-Huff.
Dennis Stonefish, Mayor of Thames, Delaware, said the weekend had been great, especially after getting through the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Powwows are open to everyone and are attended by many non-Indigenous peoples.
It was the first time Aurora Cesarini attended a powwow on Sunday.
“It was so colorful, I didn’t expect so many people to come,” said the 17-year-old, an international student from Italy who goes to school in Chatham Kent.
She was also impressed with the amount of merchandise and food available for purchase.
Stonefish said the purpose of inviting everyone was to “give them the opportunity to see our traditions and culture.”
She added that dancing and drumming all have cultural significance.
Noting the impact that boarding schools and ’60s scoops had on many indigenous peoples who have lost their traditions and culture, Stonefish said powwows give “a sense of pride in us as people.”
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How does it feel to be a chief when her community is celebrating such a landmark event?
“I would like to thank my staff because without them I would not have been able to accomplish this in this way,” she said.
Stonefish also acknowledges that past band councils decided to keep powwows going over the years so the community could look forward and celebrate.
The chief expressed special thanks to the young participants and their importance to their future.
“They will carry on our traditions and culture for years to come,” said Stonefish.
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