American Indian Association of Florida Pow Wow

Today at the Central Florida Fairgrounds it was a real treat to attend this event.

American Indian Association Pow-Wow – Fri, Sat, and Sun Nov 1-3 – Central Florida Fairgrounds at 4603 W. Colonial Dr., Orlando, 32808. This event is free for military members in uniform and has a wonderful history of thanking those who have served (as many Native Americans are veterans.)

This 27th Annual gathering of all tribes features arts and crafts, entertainment, native dancing and clothing, more. Fri 1-10pm; Sat 10am-10pm; Sun 10am – 5pm. Sunday is Girl Scout and Youth Day 10am – 1pm. Grand Entry/parade of nations: Fri 7pm; Sat 1pm and 7pm; Sun 1pm. $6 adults, $3 children and seniors. 407-474-0018


I also had a chance to speak to Roland Dempsey a local artist about his new endeavor, One Nation Art.


UPDATE

DOD Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
American Forces Press Service
By Army Sgt. 1st Class Tyrone C. Marshall Jr.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 1, 2013 – The Defense Department will celebrate the accomplishments and contributions of Native Americans and Alaska natives during November in observance of Native American Heritage Month.

November was designated such as month by President George H.W. Bush in 1990. In a joint interview with American Forces Press Service and the Pentagon Channel, Joe Sarcinella, DOD's senior advisor and liaison for Native American Affairs, discussed the department's efforts to recognize Native Americans and their contributions to the country dating back to Revolutionary War.

“DOD is really committed to celebrating all sorts of diversity -- race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation,” Sarcinella said. “I really feel that they’re leading the charge and November just happens to be that time of the year when we can focus on Native Americans.”

In addition to his senior advisor duties, Sarcinella manages the Native American Lands and Environment Mitigation program, which deals with cleanup of DOD activities on tribal lands and other treaty lands.

“I’m also the lead trainer,” he said. “I’m in charge of managing American Indian Cultural Communication Course and the Native Hawaiian Cultural Communication Course as well where I go … instruct DOD personnel … as how to consult with indigenous people.”

Sarcinella said he also leads outreach for tribal people. “I interface with all of the federal departments and agencies on interagency collaboration and working with Native American governments.”

Native American Heritage Month “is an opportunity for the department to recognize that contribution and the rich cultures that there are,” Sarcinella said. “There are 566 federally recognized tribes throughout the lower 48 [states] and Alaska.” Sarcinella said the theme of this year's observance is: “Guiding Our Destiny with Heritage and Tradition.”

Many people don’t realize that the Indian Wars were fought “all the way through the late 1800s,” he said. “But actually, [some American Indian] tribes were fighting right alongside colonials during the Revolutionary War.”

Many people today, he said, are aware of the important contributions made by the Navaho code talkers’ in the Pacific campaign during World War II, and Sarcinella said he believes Native Americans and Alaskan natives now have the highest per capita rate of military service of any ethnic group throughout the U.S. He noted that Native Americans and Alaska natives make up almost 16,000 members of the active force, and that nearly 160,000 others are veterans.

“In 2008, President [George W.] Bush posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor to Woodrow Wilson Keeble, who was a Sisseton Wahpeton tribal member from Lake Traverse Sioux, and that was for his valor during the Korean War,” Sarcinella said.
read more here