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Nanticoke Indian Tribe holds 47th annual Powwow

Event brings indigenous peoples together to celebrate heritage
The drummers and singers perform during the dances of the grand entry and the dancers in the rain Sept. 7. DAN COOK PHOTOS
Dan Cook
September 12, 2025

The Nanticoke Indian Tribe held its 47th annual Powwow Sept. 6-7 at Hudson Fields near Milton, where thousands of visitors learned of the tribal community, which shared its songs, customs and traditions with all in attendance.

The event featured a food court that sold indigenous dishes like Indian fry bread, Indian tacos and succotash. Numerous vendors displayed and sold jewelry, T-shirts, dolls, blankets, musical instruments, toys and many other Native American wares. 

The grand entry was held at noon Saturday, featuring dancers presenting their flags and speaking opening prayers. Afterward, professional Native American dancers from around the country displayed their tribal music and dances.

The Sunday grand entry was canceled due to the inclement weather, but some dancers still celebrated their heritage and danced in the rain while the drummers from Stoney Creek, Young Blood and Red Blanket groups beat the songs of their people. 

For more information about the Nanticokes, go to nanticokeIndians.org.

 

Running the sound booth and weather watching are (l-r) Herman Jackson, Chris Jackson and Lawrence Morris.
Richie Olivera sells his handmade flutes and his original music CDs.
Juzmila Huenala works the Native Expressions booth.
Showing off their unique face paint are Josie Chambers, 3 1/2, left, and her sister Livian, 9.
Drum beaters come in all colors and styles.
Stoney Creek drummer Jesse Richardson is the lead singer and beater of the group.
Stoney Creek drummers pound out a song.
Luu Phung of the Animal Behavior & Conservation Connection gives a demonstration with his exotic silvery-cheeked hornbill.
Evan Funk, 2, of Lewes keeps his eyes peeled on the silvery-cheeked hornbill.
Connie Hasrmon makes delicious fry bread.
Storyteller Raggi Rain performs a circle dance.
Ty “Dancing Wolf” Ellis of the Red Blanket drummers performs a freestyle dance.
The wet weather Sept. 7 doesn’t deter Ope Gibson from performing a dance.
Displaying the 2025 T-shirt at the Powwow sales booth are (l-r) Melissa Jackson, Linda Harmon, Brian Roberts and Shari Roberts.
Sharon Maull-Collins serves up an Indian staple, succotash.
Cindy Greenwood shops the unique jewelry at the Native Spirit booth.
The youngsters take to the dance circle.
Storyteller Raggi Rain speaks of the plight of the Indian tribes.

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Dan has worked for the Cape Gazette for more than 30 years as a photographer and reporter, covering high school sports and happenings around eastern Sussex County. He won a photography award from the National Newspaper Association, and numerous awards from the Maryland, Delaware, D.C. Press Association. A Delaware native, Dan graduated from Cape in 1972 and returned as a teacher and coach in the 1980s. He retired from the classroom in 2016. He was inducted into Cape High’s Legends Stadium in 2016. In his spare time, Dan enjoys spending time with his wife, two sons, grandchildren and dogs. 

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