For our community outing, myself and a client ventured out to Nankin Mills Park in
Westland to enjoy the 9th Annual Native American Heritage Day Fest brought to
the community by The North American Indian Association of Detroit. This event
brought much of the surrounding communities together for a day of fun, which
included performances of many dances, such as, The Grass Dance, The Round
Dance, The Blanket Dance and also the Butterfly Dance, which happened to be my
favorite; a social dance meant to mimic the crow as he bounces around the field.
One legend states that the crow brought the fire to our land to keep our
ancestors alive through the cold winter. Dancers imitate bird-like movements,
hopping side to side, first on one foot and then on the other, also known as
the crow hop. The dancers wore their beautiful and brilliant colors of
traditional regalia and ceremonial attire of the Oneida and Ojibwa people.
I would have to say the client especially seemed to enjoy
the steady, calming and inviting beat of the drum which is one of the main
foundations of Native American music. The drums act as the base of the beat to
maintain the pace or speed of their performance, they bring to life a positive
energy to any area, there is almost something magical as you sit and listen to
the steady rhythmic sound.
If you would like to learn more about the Native American
Dance, follow this website: http://www/ani-kutani.com/NativeAmericanFacts
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