Ethan Brown
ewb001@marietta.edu
On November 1, to celebrate the beginning of Native American Heritage Month, the Office of Diversity and Inclusion hosted the Piscataway Nation Singers and Dancers in Marietta College’s Gathering Place.
For a little bit of historical background, the Piscataway Nation was the first Native American tribe to encounter the English captain John Smith near the Potomac River in 1608. This traditional pow-wow-style event helped to enlighten its audience on the background and culture of the Piscataway Nation.
Mark Tayac, the leader of the Piscataway Nation Singers and Dancers, led an entertaining and educational evening in front of a crowd of Marietta College students, faculty, and community members. The beginning of the hour-long presentation featured a few traditional songs, while the rest of the time was filled with dances.
Many of these dances, including the War Dance, Hunting Dance, Rabbit Dance, and Eagle Dance, are symbolic of common aspects of Piscataway beliefs and society. For example, the Rabbit Dance is a simple man-and-woman dance meant to display kinship and unity. For a few of these dances, members of the audience were even encouraged to come up and join the dancers.
Between dances, Mark talked to the audience about what each dance symbolized for the tribe, as well as their connections to the spirits, ancestors, and nature. He also emphasized the importance of embracing one’s heritage.
In addition to the songs and dances, some hand-crafted goods were available, including jewelry, baskets, and tools.
