To the beat of a drum, people gathered around a fire to celebrate their culture and strengthen friendships.
The Keepers of the Circle hosted its sixth annual traditional Native American pow wow, “Keep the Fires Burning,” on Saturday, July 21, and Sunday, July 22, at its Rotterdam Junction site adjacent to the Mabee Farm Historic Site. Native American music provided the focal point for the event, with dancers periodically stepping into the circle to perform traditional routines. There were other attractions, too, such as craft tents, food, genealogy and history tents and archery. The group’s museum is also onsite, which has a gift shop.
The organization started 20 years ago in Albany, but Director Jessica LaPan said it’s called Rotterdam Junction home for seven years. The group has around 63 members, she said, with about 40 of those are very active.
“It is to keep the Native American culture alive,” LaPan said. “There is a lot of different Native American cultures.”
Dennis VanPutten, or “Timber Wolf Ghost Spirit,” traveled from Long Island to attend the event.
VanPutten, 66, said his Dutch grandfather married his Native American grandmother, which started his roots in the culture.
“I became aware of the circle as a little boy, because my grandmother … would go back,” he said. “She would go back to the reservation for about a month every summer and my grandfather said, ‘It is your grandmother’s escape.’”
At the tail end of her trip, VanPutten’s grandmother would let him come to the reservation before the pow wow. In 1953, he experienced his first formal introduction into the circle and pow wow.
“The experience of being at pow wow itself is our religious experience,” he said. “It is what we call ‘sharing the medicine’ and anything that is good is medicine.”
He said he was born into the culture, but somehow it was never a strong part of his family’s life. In recent years, he has embraced his heritage more and became active in the Native American community. Now, he said he recognizes his purpose and calling, which is a gift to share and empower people.
“Somehow I have been given a tool that I use to empower and it is very similar to being a rabbi, or a minister,” he said. “If someone asked me, ‘What are you?’ I’d say, ‘You can call me a spirit worker.’ Sharing the medicine is sharing the knowledge in a good way that is productive.
Don Howard, of Gloversville, said although he doesn’t have any Native American ties he is very interested in the culture. Holding a traditional wooden bow in hand, Howard said archery is what first drew him to Native American culture and history.
“It was the actual bow hunting that intrigued me to get me into shooting archery,” he said.
Howard works for Amsterdam-based BowHunters Plus and said he started off with a wooden bow and arrows before transitioning to the compound bow. He said with older bows you can watch the arrow as it pierces through the air.
“You are in tune with what your body is allowing you to do,” he said. “It is very similar to pitching a baseball, with the hand and eye coordination.”
Over the years, he said he has gone to several pow wow events and enjoys immersing himself in the culture. He said he admires the Native American lifestyle and hunting skills used to stealthily and effectively capture pray.
His affection for the culture though stretches back to his childhood.
“I always had a soft spot for the Indians,” he said. “Watching them as a kid, with the Indians and the cowboys, I always wanted the Indians to win.”
