Culture & Lifeways
The Piscataway people enjoy a rich and storied heritage thousands of years in
the making. It has always been of the highest importance to preserve our ceremonies,
language, arts, and the many other facets of our culture. Faced with the overwhelming
dominance of the Plains-based “leather and feather” stereotype, we are particularly
interested in focusing our attention on Eastern Native culture to ensure that our
indigenous ways are lost neither to our own people, nor the population at large.
Our Agenda:
Algonquin Language Circle – a resurgence of Algonquin – the native tongue of the Piscataway – has been a dream of ours for a very long time. The Algonquin Language Circle is a group of classes, workshops, and associated resources that aims to teach and re-teach the language to our people, particularly our youngest people.
Pauwau Oah’pun – meaning “Gathering of the East” or “Gathering of the Sun”, this is a planned annual powwow that showcases Eastern Native culture while providing a compliment to our more Plains-oriented annual summer powwow.
Seasonal Celebrations – our people have celebrated the coming of the new seasons since pre-history. Our Seed Gathering (Spring), Feast from the Waters (Summer), Green Corn Festival (Fall), and Feast of the Dead (Winter) are not only celebrations, but are also links to our history, to our ancestors, to the Earth, and to our future. Each of these events is centered upon a sumptuous feast of traditional Native and contemporary foods, music, dance, fashion shows, and other events.
Dance Circle – this is a series of interactive workshops that teach both eastern and western Native dances. This is not only a class for complete beginners, but also one where veteran dancers – particularly those in contemporary styles – can pick up new moves, conditioning routines, and other tips from fellow experienced dancers.
Regalia Circle – operating hand-in-hand with the Dance Circle, the Regalia Circle is a series of workshops giving hands-on instruction in creating both eastern and western regalia, as well as a marketplace of ideas where experienced craftsmen and women can share their creative techniques.
Eastern Fashion Show and Contest – incorporated into our seasonal celebrations, this is the chance for our people to show off and be recognized for their best traditional regalia. Our hope is to tap into the competitive spirit of our young people so they may see with new eyes the regal bearing of the distinctive Piscataway style, and develop a material interest in nurturing this most visible aspect of our culture.
Potomac Dance Theater – the Potomac Dance Theater, which places full emphasis on eastern music and dance theatrical performances given in a variety of venues in the Mid-Atlantic, will be the first of its kind. The Potomac Dance Theater features selected participants in the Dance Circle and other noted dancers in the tribe.
Our Agenda:
Algonquin Language Circle – a resurgence of Algonquin – the native tongue of the Piscataway – has been a dream of ours for a very long time. The Algonquin Language Circle is a group of classes, workshops, and associated resources that aims to teach and re-teach the language to our people, particularly our youngest people.
Pauwau Oah’pun – meaning “Gathering of the East” or “Gathering of the Sun”, this is a planned annual powwow that showcases Eastern Native culture while providing a compliment to our more Plains-oriented annual summer powwow.
Seasonal Celebrations – our people have celebrated the coming of the new seasons since pre-history. Our Seed Gathering (Spring), Feast from the Waters (Summer), Green Corn Festival (Fall), and Feast of the Dead (Winter) are not only celebrations, but are also links to our history, to our ancestors, to the Earth, and to our future. Each of these events is centered upon a sumptuous feast of traditional Native and contemporary foods, music, dance, fashion shows, and other events.
Dance Circle – this is a series of interactive workshops that teach both eastern and western Native dances. This is not only a class for complete beginners, but also one where veteran dancers – particularly those in contemporary styles – can pick up new moves, conditioning routines, and other tips from fellow experienced dancers.
Regalia Circle – operating hand-in-hand with the Dance Circle, the Regalia Circle is a series of workshops giving hands-on instruction in creating both eastern and western regalia, as well as a marketplace of ideas where experienced craftsmen and women can share their creative techniques.
Eastern Fashion Show and Contest – incorporated into our seasonal celebrations, this is the chance for our people to show off and be recognized for their best traditional regalia. Our hope is to tap into the competitive spirit of our young people so they may see with new eyes the regal bearing of the distinctive Piscataway style, and develop a material interest in nurturing this most visible aspect of our culture.
Potomac Dance Theater – the Potomac Dance Theater, which places full emphasis on eastern music and dance theatrical performances given in a variety of venues in the Mid-Atlantic, will be the first of its kind. The Potomac Dance Theater features selected participants in the Dance Circle and other noted dancers in the tribe.
