Native Dancer

Tuesday, December 26, 2006

I took this photo of a young man performing the Grass Dance at this year's Paumanauke Pow Wow and Native American Living Arts Festival in Copiague, New York.

The grass dance is said to have originated in the northern plains states and Canada. It's among the oldest surviving tribal dances. Some traditions say it is simply an expression of tall blades of grass swaying in the wind. Others say it was a dance done to flatten the long prairie grass in preparation for a larger ceremony.

A grass dancer's regalia is made of an abundance of fringes and ribbons. The dancer's movement causes his regalia to sway like the long grass on a windy day.

Thirty-five miles East of New York City, Copiague (pronounced /KOH payg/) is a hamlet in the Town of Babylon bordering the Great South Bay.

The name "Copiague" is the Merrick Indian word for "sheltered harbor." The Merricks are one of Long Island's original 13 Tribes. The others include: the Canarsee, Rockaway, Marsapeague, Secatogue, and Unkechaug on the South Shore. The Matinecock, Nesaquake, Setalcott, and Corchaug are lived on the North Shore. While the Shinnecock, Manhasset and Montauks on the East End.