VIRGINIA INDIANS TO HONOR VETERANS; WORLD WAR I CHOCTAW CODE TALKER FAMILIES AT POW-WOW

November 2, 2002 -- King William, VA -- In a joint announcement, six Virginia Indian tribes announced that they will convene in King William, Virginia on November 9 and November 10, 2002, for a joint Honoring Veterans Pow-Wow. On this historic occasion, Chiefs from the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Monacan, Nansemond, Rappahannock and Upper Mattaponi tribes will give special honor to family descendents of the Choctaw World War I Code Talkers, as well as celebrate the contributions of Native Americans.

November 2, 2002 -- King William, VA -- In a joint announcement, six Virginia Indian tribes announced that they will convene in King William, Virginia on November 9 and November 10, 2002, for a joint Honoring Veterans Pow-Wow. On this historic occasion, Chiefs from the Chickahominy, Eastern Chickahominy, Monacan, Nansemond, Rappahannock and Upper Mattaponi tribes will give special honor to family descendents of the Choctaw World War I Code Talkers, as well as celebrate the contributions of Native Americans.
   We are so pleased that the Virginia tribes remember that the Choctaw were the first code talkers," says Evangeline Wilson, descendent of two WWI code talkers and President of the Choctaw Code Talkers Association. We are looking forward to coming to Virginia and joining the Virginia tribes as they honor our ancestors and all veterans contributions to our country." Wilson will join three other code talker descendents from the Choctaw Nation and will be participating in the Pow-Wow. A special honor ceremony is planned for the Choctaw Nation.
   As a decorated Viet Nam veteran, Powhatan Red Cloud-Owen, member of the Chickahominy Indian Tribe and chair of the Veterans Pow-Wow knows what it means to native people to serve our country. We native peoples have stood ready to resume our ancestral and traditional role of warrior, to defend and protect our families and our country," says Owen. On this memorable occasion, the six nations of Virginia will give honor to all these veterans, Indian and non-Indian alike, with our Honoring Veterans Pow-Wow."
   The Six Nations of Virginia Veterans Pow-Wow is expected to attract visitors from all over Virginia, the surrounding states and Native Americans from across the country. The historic

gathering of the Virginia tribes in May attracted well over 6,000 visitors who came to see dancers as well as Indian arts and crafts and cultural demonstrations.
   The Master of Ceremony will be Clayton Fights on Water" Old Elk, from the Crow Nation in Montana. Born and raised on the Crow Reservation, Old Elk is considered a traditionalist among his tribe and participates in many Pow-Wows throughout the country. Lead dancers will be Debora Little Wing" Moore from the Pamunkey Indian Tribe and Keith Hides the Sun" Anderson, member of the Cherokee Tribe. The six tribes will form a color guard to lead Grand Entry each day; 12:00 noon on Saturday and 1:00 p.m. on Sunday. Clark Stewart, Chickahominy Tribe, will serve as Arena Director. The host drum will be Red Wolf North Carolina; guest drums will be Eastern Bull from North Carolina and Yesah (Peoples Drum) from the Richmond area.
Oneta, wildlife artist from Booneville, Mississippi, is designing a special print in honor of veterans for the Pow-Wow. The print will show a Native American veteran and a child, as well as an ancestor, reflecting family generations -- past, present, and future -- of significant importance to the Native American culture.
On hand will be the Rappahannock Dancers, Chickahominy Tribal Dancers and the Monacan Tribe and Youth Dancers, all of whom will perform. Other highlights, in celebration of Native American month, will include Rose Powhatan, who will present a Powhatan Indian cultural exhibit including a replica of a long house, and Backwoods Survival demonstrators, Bill and Susie Gingras, will show ways early Indian people made their tools and weapons for daily life and survival. Special tribal exhibits will show artifacts and history of the Virginia tribes. Storytelling and childrens crafts will be on-going activities at the Pow-Wow. Military representatives will be available to discuss veteran contributions and career opportunities.
   Admission tickets to the gathering will be $5 for adults and $3 for children over age 5 and seniors over 60, and may be purchased at the gate.
   This event is being sponsored by VITAL, Virginia Indian Tribal Alliance for Life. Additional information about the gathering and driving directions to King William can be found on their website at www.vitalva.org.
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