After changing venues due to rain from Albemarle Field to indoors at Newton North, the city celebrated its fifth Indigenous Peoples’ Day on October 13. There were approximately 1,100 attendees, along with 68 Indigenous vendors and 9 food vendors.
Chief Dean Stanton, Chief of the Narragansett Indian Tribe of Rhode Island, led the opening fire blessing. Dr. Darlene Flores, a member of the planning committee for the celebration, said that given the weather, the move indoors was welcome, but many missed having a ceremonial fire nearby to continue the blessings throughout the day.
Described on its website as a free, family-oriented cultural and spiritual celebration, the event is open, accessible, and welcoming to all.
This year’s theme was “honoring our drums,” and several dance groups incorporated the instrument into their routines.
Performers included Jose Lugo and his group Tokalli Macewalli. One of the dancers, Arelys Rojas, even held her 3-month-old baby Nitzisla, during their performance.
Attendees also joined in as different groups shared their music, including Tihtiyas Paul, 11, who wore a “jingle dress.”
Some performers traveled far to come to Newton’s event, including the group SanArte Cultura from Puerto Rico. Member Angel Luis Reyes danced with an attendee, while Jeanitza Aviles, the group’s artistic director, showed audience members some steps.
Other performers included young dancers who wowed the crowd with their moves; the drum group High Rollers from Connecticut; Dr. Darlene Flores, a member of the planning committee for Newton’s Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration; and many other performers who danced in colorful costumes.
During the Call to the Seven Directions prayer, Dr. Darlene Flores, who is Taíno and a resident of Newton, accompanied Cito Bairaniki Colón, who blew the conch shell, the guamo. Dr. Flores’s son, Zamir Ali Nieves-Flores, is a Newton middle school student and joined in by blowing the guamo to call in the sacred directions as a Taíno Native American.
Attendees could also visit multiple food, art and other vendors, including Will Johnson of Frybread Indigenous Fusion Cuisine, who cooked up some of the tasty dish; Wasi Rivera of Prophesy Chocolate who sold Zapotec weavings; and many others.
