Native American winter traditions celebrated in Niagara Falls
NIAGARA FALLS - Mid-winter is one of the high ceremonial times for Native American tribes. Indian names are given and oral histories are told.
A celebration of this culture was held today in Niagara Falls and included storytelling, snowshoeing and a centuries-old sport called snowsnake.
"[The Native American Winter Festival] is a time to get together during winter and carry on those traditions," said Allan Jamieson, director of Neto Hatinakwe Onkwehowe (NETO), an organization that promotes and supports Native American culture.
For snowsnake, a half-mile long track is carved into a snow mound and polished wooden sticks are flung down the track. It took Tuscarora tribe member Pete Bissell a week to build the track, Jamieson said.
Watch Bissell describe snowsnake
Charcoal messages written on the sticks used to be tossed between the Buffalo and Fort Erie sides of the Niagara River, Jamieson said.
Storytelling only takes place during the winter, Jamieson said, because the stories are so rich and beautiful they would distract the animals.
NETO collaborated with New York State Parks to host the event at the Niagara Gorge Discovery Center in Niagara Falls State Park.
— Joseph Popiolkowski
jpopiolkowski@buffnews.com
