Lawilowan American Indian Festival, Inc.

Drum Alley - Lawilowan American Indian Festival - March 7, 2009 - Carlisle, PA

So many dancers, we had three circles going all at once.

Lawilowan American Indian Festival, Inc. is a PA Domestic Non-Profit Corporation, formed in 2007, by Noni Many Hawks Nickerson and Arvil Meisenhelter.  When Don Hockenberry retired from organizing The Red Creek Mid-Winter Festival, he graciously allowed us to continue the long running event that he and his  Boy Scout Troop 71 hand organized and produced for 16 years.  The Festival had started in a church hall, outgrown that and moved to Gettysburg College, and eventually moved to Dickinson College in Carlisle, PA, to fill the Kline Athletic Center .  Under a new name, the first Lawilowan Festival was held in March of 2008, at the Carlisle Expo Center, and started out small.  People liked the venue, and the spirit of the event, and when they returned in March of 2009, the dance arbor was filled during Grand Entry with over 300 dancers, three circles deep. 

Don had always put on the Red Creek festival as a gift to the Indian people, a time to shake off the cold and inactivity of winter, get your regalia on, and move to the beat of the drum, the heartbeat of the Earth Mother.  It was also a great way for drums to get air time before the main powwow season began.  We promised to continue this event in the same spirit and love for the People that Don has always brought to the dance.  And hopefully we have succeeded in doing just that.  We have been very honored to host them!   And we hope the Lawilowan "family" continues to grow!

Please join us for our Muddy Run Powwow, too!

Muddy Run Powwow is back, better than ever, and we are working hard on getting everything organized for September 18th and 19th, 2010!  We hear that there are some individuals out there spreading "misinformation" about Muddy Run, saying we've cancelled the powwow.  Nothing could be farther from the truth, as they know.  We don't cancel, no matter what the weather, or who else is putting on a powwow the same weekend.  We have our four drums, head dancers, fire keeper, arena director and emcee.  Please join us at the Muddy Run Recreational Park, Holtwood, PA, and experience a family friendly, traditional American Indian gathering.  We'll have plenty of vendors, including Native food, and we will be opening the dance circle up to all, after the dinner hour on Saturday night.

Please continue to stop by, to keep track of updates on both the Muddy Run Powwow, Sept. 18th and 19th, 2010, and the Lawilowan American Indian Festival, March 12, 2011.  View other items about our local American Indian community on our "Wolf Trails & Hawks Flights" and "Ongoing Issues and Upcoming Events" pages, including information on walks for the Diabetes Association. 

Proceeds from both powwows benefit the American Diabetes Association, with donations specifically targeted for children's diabetes research and programs.  Diabetes is a veritable scurge on the American Indian population and striking Indian children at increasingly younger ages.  We appreciate your support!