The first-ever Raritan Native American Pow Wow was held on Saturday at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds in East Brunswick.
EAST BRUNSWICK -- Hundreds looked on as a Native American boy, dressed in traditional garment, performed a roughly 5,000-year-old dance to enchanting Native American flute and drums.
The first-ever Raritan Native American Heritage Celebration and Pow Wow, hosted by the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, was held on Saturday at the Middlesex County Fairgrounds, where Native Americans from all over gathered to share their heritage with the public.
"It is important for Americans to know about Native American culture," said Cliff Matias, cultural director for the Redhawk Native American Arts Council, which is based in the New York City area as well as Middlesex County.
He added, "The way our food is cooked, the way we eat, the way we plant our crops, our bathing habits, the democracy we practiced" is rooted in Native American heritage.
The educational component of the event also included teaching and correcting Native American stereotypes.
Native American Pow Wows having been taking place all over the state, each aiming to educate the public on Native American heritage.
Throughout the beautiful and sunny day, Native Americans sang and danced, and between performances provided the crowd with their history.
Tents were setup with a variety of Native American items for sale, including various collections of handcrafted jewelry.
There were also dancing contests, smoke dances and traditional dancing, to name a few.
The Redhawk Native Arts American Council is a 25-year-old nonprofit organization that represents Native American cultures spanning from North, South, and Central Americas, as well as the Caribbean and Polynesia. Through events like the Pow Wow on Saturday, the organization aims to educate the public on Native American heritage through performances, art and other forms of expression, according to its website.
Spencer Kent may be reached at skent@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @SpencerMKent. Find the Find NJ.com on Facebook.