NEW LEBANON, N.Y. (NEWS10) – The original inhabitants of the Capital Region have returned this weekend to dance on their homelands for the first time since they were forcibly removed. The band of Mohicans celebrated their historic return with the Homelands PowWow.
The inaugural event saw the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of the Mohican Indians return to their ancestral lands at the Darrow School.
Their original territory was, what is now called, the Capital Region – from the Hudson River in the greater Albany area, all the way up to Lake Champlain.
The tribe was removed from the land in the 1700s. From Albany they were forced to a mission in Stockbridge, Massachusetts. Then, to the Oneida territory in upstate New York, before finally landing in Wisconsin where tribal members currently reside.
“We wanted to return to the homeland,” said Homelands PowWow Arena Director Gordon Williams.
He said it’s long overdue and the return feels powerful. I asked, “The singing, the dancing, the drumming, that was all illegal at one point.” Williams responded, “Yeah, it was all illegal.”
His great uncle used to preserve their traditions by hiding in the woods to practice them, when Native Americans were not citizens and religious ceremonies were considered illegal.
60 Mohicans traveled from Green Bay to dance on their homelands – like Ginger Stevens who brought 16 of her family members.
“Every one of our tribal members has had a lot of tears to walk on this land. and I thought I was done with the tears until I walked out in that grand entry and danced on this land for my ancestors. So it’s very special,” said Stevens.
She said they’re dancing their hearts out, all weekend long, for their ancestors who weren’t allowed to return.
“We are alive and well. Welcome us back like the people here. A lot of people welcomed us back. The turnout is magnificent,” said Williams.
“We don’t want them to be afraid to come join us. Everyone we’ve met was so welcoming, but people are afraid that we’re, you know, holding a grudge. There’s nothing like that. We fully embrace everyone that comes to see us, to meet us, to dance with us,” said Stevens.
If you’d like to experience the empowering dancing of the Mohicans, you can come out and join them. The Homelands PowWow is happening from 10 a-m to 5 p-m on Sunday. You can purchase tickets at the gate, or online. It’s $20 for adults and $10 for youth.
Carina Dominguez
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