Dartmouth hosted Wampanoag powwow
Wamponoag and other tribal dancers perform at the powwow. Photos by Kat Sheridan
A game of hubbab. 
Kids learn how to make a corn husk doll. 
A traditionally inspired meal. 
Food cooking in a traditional way. 
The inside of the wetu. 
The wetu. 
Patricia S'Ochepo Sutton with the traditional clothing she makes. 
Beadwork by Quai. 
A dancer during on the performances. 
The powwow featured many dances. 
Ribbon clothing by Roxanne Jackson. 
Emilie Hopkinson with her artwork. 
Members of the public were invited to a social dance. 
Wampum pieces by Annawon Weeden and his family. 
The beginning of a social dance. 
A quill smoke hide bag by Yolandi Smith and Venus Reels.
Wamponoag and other tribal dancers perform at the powwow. Photos by Kat Sheridan
A game of hubbab.
Kids learn how to make a corn husk doll.
A traditionally inspired meal.
Food cooking in a traditional way.
The inside of the wetu.
The wetu.
Patricia S'Ochepo Sutton with the traditional clothing she makes.
Beadwork by Quai.
A dancer during on the performances.
The powwow featured many dances.
Ribbon clothing by Roxanne Jackson.
Emilie Hopkinson with her artwork.
Members of the public were invited to a social dance.
Wampum pieces by Annawon Weeden and his family.
The beginning of a social dance.
A quill smoke hide bag by Yolandi Smith and Venus Reels.
The sound of drumbeats and singing filled the air at Round the Bend Farm during the powwow held by the Wampanoag people on Saturday, Oct. 17.
The powwow was started in 2022 when Annawon Weeden was looking for a space to build a wetu, a hooded shelter. The Wampanoag tribe had received a grant to build one, and Weeden was looking for a space where it would be both protected and appreciated.
He knew Desa Van Laarhoven, the co-founder and executive director of Round the Bend, from an environmental protection group. She offered the farm as a space for the wetu.
“This is a creative art space for artists of our tribe and nation to showcase and recreate, bring to life our culture in various ways,” said Weeden.
Van Laarhoven wanted to bring more education about the Wampanoag people to town after the debate surrounding the Dartmouth Public Schools logo, the Dartmouth Indian. She stated it was a complicated issue, as it was designed by a Wampanoag man.
The construction was a community effort, with lots of audience and public participation.
“I’ve built these in many communities to bring our communities together,” said Weeden, “Really open a door to include people in the environment.”
To introduce the wetu to the public, a powwow was held. He wanted to bring communities together to celebrate the structure and include people in environmental protection.
“I think we, as human beings, kind of tend to isolate or protect ourselves, shelter ourselves, just totally separate ourselves,” said Weeden, “Everything about nature is reminding us not to do a lot of the things we;re doing today.”
The event features many elements of Indigenous American culture. There were guests from many tribal nations in attendance, not just Mashpee Wampanoag people.
There were demonstrations of porcupine quill weaving, war clubs demonstration and storytelling. The kids could play games such as hubbab, shoot a target with a bow and arrow or make a corn husk doll.
A number of dancers performed and participated in social dances, where anyone from the crowd was invited to participate.
There were vendors selling goods such as traditional clothing, wampum jewelry, beaded goods and more. Sly Fox Den made a traditional inspired meal, with salmon, tacos and fry bread.
The next powwow at Round the Bend is not scheduled, but it is not a yearly event and will probably not be until 2028. To keep up with what public events the Wampanoag people are hosting, Weeden suggested people follow them on Instagram or Facebook @wampanoagexperience.
