1930 frigid pow wow NANTICOKE INDIANS

FRIGID NANTICOKE POW WOW

1930 THANKSGIVING

Frigid temperatures yesterday caused the Nanticoke Indian Braves to add their Indian blankets to their usual scant costumes at their Pow Wow ceremonies at the Indian River Reservation at Oak Orchard.

Instead of just feathers, war paint, and buckskins, the braves wrapped themselves in colorful blankets to

perform the tribal dances. It was a frosty Thanksgiving picnic enjoyed by thousands of Indians and guest from Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, Pennsylvania, all shivering and longing for their own Indian blankets. High winds prevented the normally wild council fire for fear of setting neighboring leaves and structures afire.

During the afternoon guest from other reservations arrived ; Lacy Oxendine of the Cherokee's, Kowdelanche Lokotah, Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota, E. A. Roe of the Chippewa, and three students of the Pennsylvania University Research Team, Joseph McFarland, Irving Bird and Phillip Werner.

Nanticoke Chief Sea Gull, aka Ferdinand Clark, the head of those who lives and farms the grounds at the reservation , was master of ceremonies, in a wooded area on the banks of the Indian River at his home. Chief Mawitt, his brother, Robert , who lives in Philadelphia, was his assistant. Their mother, Princess Madacanna, Mrs. Florence Clark, was in charge of the food served at the repast and visiting Indian and guest entertainment. Little Owl, Charles Clark, also assisted in the ceremony’s.

Other notables who were guest of Chief Sea Gull and his mother were; Chief White Horn of the Omaha Tribe of Nebraska, who lives in Philadelphia, Chief Johnson of the Rappahannock Tribe of Virgina, now living in Baltimore, and Chief War Eagle, Delaware Lenape Tribe of Oklahoma.

Chief Sea Gull declared the Pow Wow was the smallest of attendance since the 1921 Association founding Pow Wow due to the business depression and drought.

Council was held Wednesday night in the Pavillion and held a dance in costume, Thursday, was given to hunting rabbits and quail during the day and the raccoons hunt that night.

This is the first in many years that Professor Frank Speck of the University of Pennsylvania Anthroplogy Department , who was instrumental in bringing about the organization of the Nanticoke Indian Association , was not able to attend.

WILMINGTON NEWS JOURNAL, NOVEMBER 28 1930