THUNDER ON THE BEACH!
the ninth annual PowWow

Smoke is used as a cleansing ritual in ceremonies preceding the "grand entry" for participants celebrating American Indian culture at the Vero Beach fairgrounds while a chief and a young "squaw" enter the parade circle.

About 50 Native Americans in the regalia of their ancestors celebrated their history and culture with marvelous costumes and visually poetic dance to the delight of a capacity audience.

As they circled the show ring in preparation for presenting their colors (native flags and the US flag), they invited all veterans in the crowd to join their ceremonial march.

I did and it was an experience punctuated with patriotic shivers as I moved slowly around the ring and pondered the meaning of these devout natives saluting the veterans of ancestors who themselves were responsible for enforcing the removal of these historic tribes from their land.

As the march concluded the Indians formed a receiving line and shook the hand of the veterans and thanked us for our service.  More often, the handshake was followed by a softly sincere hug.

Each of us was given a small, cloth sack which I learned later contained tobacco, "a substance Indians revered as they revered our service to our country."

I enjoyed the private scene of the "cowboy" sharing thoughtful comments with his "Indian" son prior to the ceremony.

I chuckled at the cultural clash between the modern cigarette and the  squaw in her historic regalia.

I left the arena that day with a richly enhanced sense of brotherhood with these folks whose ancestors suffered the loss of their land at the hands of ancestors of mine.

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Thanks also to long-time Bellville friends, Dick and Jan Shafer who introduced us to the Vero Beach area a couple of years ago and accompanied us on this special day.