ASHEBORO, N.C. — In partnership with Indigenous community organizers, the North Carolina Zoo and Botanical Gardens will host an American Indian Powwow at its Solar Pointe picnic area this weekend. The Zoo is part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (NCDNCR).
Powwows are traditional social gatherings celebrated by many Indigenous cultures, including those in North Carolina. The event on Saturday, Oct. 4, runs 10:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. The celebration is free to the public and does not require Zoo admission to attend. Guests are invited to experience a day of dancing, song, art, learning and more, highlighting the legacy and traditional cultures of multiple Indigenous communities living in North Carolina today.
“The Zoo serves and welcomes all cultures, and values the sharing of knowledge, history and tradition,” said Diane Villa, interim director of the North Carolina Zoo. “The state of North Carolina is situated on the ancestral land of many American Indian tribes who have lived in this place, cared for these lands and traveled throughout the region for thousands of years. We honor them as the first stewards of this place and celebrate the enduring presence, vibrance and diversity of contemporary Indigenous communities still thriving here today.”
Ryan Dial, a cultural educator and enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, worked closely with members of the Zoo team to organize and share this event with residents and guests. Tribes represented include Lumbee, Coharie and Waccamaw Siouan.
Full details are available at www.nczoo.org/events.
