by Linda Paul

Created on: August 20, 2007

The town that I live in is bordered by two giant casinos, Mohegan Sun and Foxwoods. While I may not agree with the materialism that is expressed by gambling, I do appreciate the opportunity to share in the rich and colorful history and traditions of the Native Americans.

Today I ventured out to a Wigwam Festival. Up until recently, the festival was known as a Pow-Wow, but according to a spokesperson at the festival, that name was not historically correct. This ancient ritual of the harvest was known as a Wigwam gathering.

Spread out over a couple of acres were Native American crafters, food vendors offering such delicacies as buffalo burgers, frogs legs, mussels with potatoes and onions, gator bites, venison, and sassafras tea. And, in the center was a giant tent in which the ceremonies and dancing competitions took place.

We arrived by shuttle bus, because the state park where the festival was being held didn't have enough parking spaces to accommodate the anticipated hundreds of people who would be arriving for the two-day event. The trip on the limousine bus was a fairly short one, and our bus was packed with tourists, locals, and visitors from different tribes.

The first thing I noticed as we disembarked was the smell. The air was scented with the smells of white sage, sweet grass, and numerous incenses. I could feel my spirit lift from the fragrance alone. As I wandered from booth to booth, touching the buckskin clothing, admiring the turquoise jewelry, and standing awestruck before the artwork, I felt a feeling of humility at being allowed to be a part of something so very sacred and beautiful. People from tribes all over the world were present, and the variety of artwork and crafted items was totally incredible!

Eventually, we arrived at the food booths. I wasn't quite sure if buffalo burgers or gator bites would settle well with my digestive system, so I opted for a plate of savory vegetables and rice and sassafras tea. My husband ordered the mussels with potato and onion. The food was incredibly good. We sat on a wooden fence and watched the parade of dancers wander by. Some were in buckskins, other wore bright, neon colored costumes and elaborate headdresses, and others were in jeans accessorized with turquoise and silver jewelry. I felt as if I had stepped back in time and was privy to a time when nature ruled humankind and not the other way around.

The call for the grand entry came over the loud speaker, and we made our way to the tent. The first to

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