The Annual Return to Mauch Chunk Pow Wow was held at the Mauch Chunk Lake Park on Saturday and Sunday.

Men, women, and children from various Native American tribes and nations gathered at the park for music, dancing, and social time, celebrating Native American culture.

In addition to the dancing and music; food, craft, and art vendors were set up in tents around the area, all surrounding the center ring.

“This is a gathering of the people, many different nations,” explained Barry Lee, emcee for the pow wow.

“Musically, we have a variety of styles represented. We have the northern-style singers, southern-style singers, we have northeast-style singing, and we have western coming out. It’s the spirit of being together.”

Due to the rain on Saturday, the formalities of the pow wow were suspended, and people took part in intertribal dancing, a less formal program.

The regalia was optional, and people from all tribes and even non-Native Americans joined in.

Drums and singing were performed by Medicine Horse, Stoney’s Boys, the Itchy Dog Singers, and the Gray Cloud Singers.

“A pow wow takes on the personality where it starts looking like a family picnic,” Lee said.

“You’re really going to get that sense. We all kind of know each other. And those who we don’t know, we’ll know by the end of the day. It’s family; the whole idea behind it.”

Sunday featured a full pow wow program, including the Grand Entry at noon, a Veterans Honor which had members of the various military divisions, along with first responders, dancing or walking around the ring. Head Veteran Dancers were Corey Macauley and Carrie Orellana Ortega.

A prayer was recited in the traditional Native American language, and again in English. Then the dancing began with a Grass Dance. Several other dances featured included the Men’s Traditional and Women’s Traditional dances.

The Lead Man Dancer for the pow wow was Matt White Eagle Clair. His wife, Chris Mourning Dove Clair was Lead Ladies Dancer.

“It’s like coming home, when we get together here in the Mauch Chunk Lake,” Lee pointed out.

“We have had pow wows in Lehighton, in Hawley, and other area; but, it’s like coming home here.”