North Country Inter-Tribal Pow-wow is a Pow-wow held in Newport, Maine each year on Labor Day Weekend. 2009 is the 10th year hosting the Pow-wow. Ed, Anna, and family and alot of volunteers have made this Pow-wow the biggest in the state of Maine.
The Pow-wow is Inter-Tribal which means 'of all tribes' A Pow-wow is a gathering. There are no drugs or alcohol allowed on the grounds.
There are 25-30 traders including 2-3 food vendors. All of the traders and vendors must meet certain requirements. All products sold must be hand made. The food vendors must make and sale at least one food item that is Native American.
There is alot to do and see. We have dancers dressed in traditional regalia dancing in a sacred circle. There is storytelling in a tipi. There is demonstrations also in the tipi. There is a Tomahawk Throw contest. We also have a second tipi where our sacred fire is . The sacred fire is lit at dawn on the first day with a fire lighting prayer and offering of tabacco. If the sacred fire goes out then the Pow-wow is over. There is no relighting the fire. North Country has a Fire Keeper that tends the fire 24 hours a day all weekend long.
James Augustine is the emcee for the Pow-wow he is from Big Cove , Canada. We usually have 3-6 drum groups.
We provide a meal for the traders, vendors, dancers, drummers, staff, and volunteers. We usually feed around 200 people. The weekend is alot of fun for the family. We are located in Newport, Maine.