I attended a pow wow last year – Piscataway Indians in southern Maryland. Today I’d like to share two photos from that event. There is something about native American ceremonies that draws me in. They seem spiritual and grand, yet so simple. A lot of the participants you wouldn’t know by looking at them in their everyday clothing, that they are Native American. Many of them are mixed, appear to be largely of African or European descent, but claim their first nation identity and hold on to the practices of the elders who taught them. I find the pow wows interesting and I see in them, some of the elements of African spirituality and cultural community buliding that lead me to think that if we take interest in, and respect ourselves and each other, we could find more peaceful solutions for world problems.
I am looking foward to capturing more not-so-mainstream aspects of life in the DC Metro Area in the near future, such as an Indian or Ethopian or West African wedding. All of this is in my effort to “discover a culture beyond your imagination.”
Enjoy
L
Although these two costumes seem unique, they are not altogether unfamiliar. A lot of it is seen in San Fernando every year during the carnival season. I wonder what they would think if they saw these portrayals.
The photography aspect brings them to life in a special way. Keep pressing on. Thanks for the exposure to a different culture.