COURTLAND-The Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe’s 6th Annual Intertribal Powwow and Gathering, a &uot;Celebration of the Green Corn Harvest,&uot; is being held on July 21-22 at the Southampton County Fairgrounds on New Market Road.

The &uot;Grand Entry / Parade In&uot; is at noon on Saturday and 1 p.m. on Sunday, including drums, Native American Indian Dancers in full regalia, children demonstrations and the history of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe.

Also available is food and drink, including hamburgers, hot dogs, fish and chips, Indian tacos and Indian fry-bread.

As part of the activities on Saturday is an authentic Native American wedding at 3 p.m. in the center circle, done in full Iroquoian tradition and in the language of the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indians.

There will be Native American arts and craft vendors with a host of crafts and jewelry for sale.

Powwow Chairperson, Al &uot;Strong Heart&uot; Suter and Co-Chair Rickie &uot;Two Beavers&uot; Boone, said they are expecting a good turnout.

The master of ceremonies this year will be Keith Colston, a renowned native dancer and the executive director for the Maryland Commission on Indian Affairs.

The head male dancer will be Keith &uot;Hides In the Sun&uot; Anderson and the head female dancer will be Emma &uot;Raven&uot; Kelsey.

Both are part of the dance troop &uot;Crooked Sky.&uot;

Chief Thomas &uot;Two Feathers&uot; Lewis, Meherrin Indian Tribe, North Carolina, will be the arena director.

Chief Walt &uot;Red Hawk&uot; Brown said there will be a number of drums this year. The Host Drum will be the Edisto River Singers of South Carolina and the guest drum will be Falling Water of Virginia. Chief Brown also said that a representative of the Archeological Society of Virginia (ASV), Nansemond Chapter, will be at the Powwow

participating with an &uot;Indian Artifact Identification.&uot; Artifacts that visitors want identified should bring them to the Powwow.

Southampton County Native Stan Persa will be on hand to demonstrate &uot;Flint Knapping.&uot;

Chief Brown has become a familiar figure within the school system throughout Southside Virginia and Hampton Roads teaching and sharing American Indian Traditions, culture and the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe’s history.

He recently completed a two-week speaking tour, in Native regalia, along with other tribal members, with the Norfolk Virginia Public Library – Barron F. Black Homework Center, Janaf branch, Lafayette branch and Little Creek branch – speaking to approximately 350 children and adults.

Chief Brown said, &uot;the Powwow here in our local area should be viewed as a catalyst in assisting our third- and fifth-graders in passing the Native American portion of the Standard of Learning (SOL) Exam.&uot;

More information is available at the Cheroenhaka (Nottoway) Indian Tribe Web site: _ HYPERLINK &uot;http://www.cheroenhaka-nottoway.org&uot; _http://www.cheroenhaka-nottoway.org, or call powwow chairman Al Suter at (757) 549-7287, or Chief Walt Brown at (757) 562-7760