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POWWOW Continued from page 1 Center of Chicago and will be hosting the Summer Powwow Cultural Days July 20 and July 21. The teepee was brought to the farm a few years back, after Sue Siegel decided to embrace and investigate her Cherokee background. The fourth-generation of farmers, the Siegel family, rooted in tradition, has been sharing the importance of farming to the area for years, inviting thousands of city children for a day out at the farm, offering a look into a completely different lifestyle that teaches how farmers feed the world. “It becomes a cultural story. I love teaching about our heritage and am proud to be a thirdgeneration farmer,” said Siegel. “Our heritage is engrained with the early Americans. I love to see where we have been so it may help us know where we are going.” Building upon their outreach efforts, the Siegels sought a way to enrich the community about
Indian culture. A partnership was born with President and Executive Director of the American Indian Center Joseph Podlasek, who also is the President of the National Urban Indian Family Coalition and a Commissioner of City of Chicago Human Relations commission and the idea of a summer Powwow came to life. A powwow is a gathering of North America’s Native people. The word derives from the Narragansett word powwaw, meaning “spiritual leader.” A modern powwow is a specific type of event where both Native American and NonNative American People meet to dance, sing, socialize, and honor American Indian culture. “The American Indian Center is dedicated to servicing the needs of our community,” said Podlasek.“In addition we want to share our heritage and with the Siegels we can do that in a bigger way. We can start that in this area—it will be a great family event. It will be about getting to know one another and becoming friends.” The main focus of the festival will be on the history and
Laura Katauskas/STAFF REPORTER
Cyndee Foxstar and Michael Pamonicutt perform the traditional dance style.
heritage of the Native American Indian Culture in this country and specific to Will County. The Powwow promises to include interactive, educational fun with folk dancers in jingle dress, storytellers, archery and more. The event will be held at the farm from 10:30 a.m. to 5
p.m. July 20 and 21 at the farm located at 17250 Weber Road, Lockport. “A big part of the Indian culture is step back from the urban environment—that’s what farming is all about as well,” said Siegel.“We both find family heritage vital and we
want to share that.” The American Indian Center of Chicago represents the largest non-reservation population of Native Americans in the United States. For more information, visit www.aic-chicago.org or www. cottonwoodfarms.net