Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Pow Wow 2012

POW WOW....the annual event that draws hundreds of people to our campus, a cold snap (this year it was rainy AND cold) and takes us back to our early days in North America by celebrating those who came before us.

The day begins outside with an authentic gathering of tribal people (kindergartners) dressed in full regalia representing eight different tribes.  They perform tribal dances, sing "Dancing Song of the Skunk" and "Sunset" and listen to a story about the Timucuan Indians who roamed North Florida several hundred years ago.  We do our best to make the day as authentic as possible and it is one of those Chets Creek traditions that is not to be missed.
Chief Chets Creek, Chief Jumping Frog, Chief Sing-Um-Song

Once the outdoor ceremony has finished, each kindergarten class rotates through various centers experiencing Native American culture.  They practice symbol writing, play clay bingo, listen to the story of the "Three Sisters" in an authentic tee-pee, play tribal games, paint with natural dyes, learn the "Canoe Song,"  enjoy a Native American Artifacts experience and taste food that would have been eaten by the locals at that time.
Chief Sing-Um-Song teaching "Canoe Song"

The kindergartners that participated this year will return as first graders to watch next year and return again as fifth graders to assist our newest crop of kindergartners with their Pow Wow.  And so the tradition continues....

Until next time...

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