Lawilowan American Indian Festival, Inc.

About Us

Arvil Meisenhelter is of Lenape ancestry, and has been a vendor for many years.  Noni Many Hawks Nickerson is a women's traditional dancer, and is of Mohegan and Montauk ancestry.  Friends for over a decade, they knew they could work well together, and in 2007, when they found that the Red Creek Mid-Winter Festival was going to be allowed to go into the history books, they decided to ask if they could take it over, and continue the Festival in the same spirit as Mr. Don Hockenberry had for over 16 years.  Mr. Hockenberry graciously approved of their continuing the festival, and Don was still very much involved in the planning of the event, and participating as our emcee.  Sadly, Don passed to spirit on October 26, 2009, but his beloved Festival will continue, as a way of honoring him, and the love that he imparted to all of the people his energy touched, and all he did.

The festival is always put on as a gift for the American Indian people, along with being an educational experience for non-Indians.  Dancers from at least 50 tribes, from across the country, come together at this event, with their rich tribal heritage, and beautiful regalia.  Tribal and regional dances are included in the dance schedule, so that the non-Indian public can get a sampling of the difference in dances from region to region.  By educating the public about the differences between tribes, regalia and traditions, we hope to dispel many of the stereotypes that surround the American Indian people.

The Lawilowan American Indian Festival has been supported by a grant, for the past three years, from the Pennsylvania Partners in the Arts (PPA), the regional arts funding partnership of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, a state agency.  State government funding comes through an annual appropriation by Pennsylvania's General Assembly and from the National Endowment for the Arts, a Federal agency.  PPA is administered in this region by Jump Street, Harrisburg, PA.

In September of 2009, Lawilowan was honored to be given permission to bring back a long-standing and popular powwow, Muddy Run.  Held at the Muddy Run Recreational Park in Holtwood, PA, this is an outdoor, two-day powwow that draws approximately 350 dancers, numerous vendors, and a huge public attendance.  Dancers and vendors are allowed to camp on the powwow grounds, while all others wishing to camp may avail themselves of the campsites operated by the park, including electric hookups and showers.  This is a great place and event for families who enjoy American Indian powwows and camping.   We hope you'll all come out and join us for a great time!!

Mission Statement

We are a non-profit organization, with three main goals to our mission.  We still hold to the main goal of continuing what was the Red Creek Mid-Winter Festival, as a gift for all American Indian people, as a chance to dance, to sing, to renew old friendships and make new ones, and to reconnect with the extended family of the American Indian community.  That community covers the entire East Coast of the United States.  We have dancers who travel from Florida, Michigan, Minnesota, Maine, New Hampshire, upper New York State, and from as far away as California, to attend the Lawilowan Festival.

After our first Lawilowan Festival in March of 2008, we realized that many of our Native friends and relations struggled with a daily battle against diabetes, myself (Noni) included.  We decided to turn the focus of the festival into a means of raising much needed funds for research into a cure for the disease.  Diabetes affects the American Indian population at a much higher rate than any other race in the United States.  And it has now begun to show up in Indian children at an alarming rate.  The American Diabetes Association has many wonderful programs for children and their families, including camps, nutrition programs and family activities.  The ADA also puts on many activities that are open to the public, such as 10K runs and marathons, that we are more than happy to advertise on our website, and encourage friends and acquaintances to attend and support.

There is a third goal that Lawilowan A.I.F., Inc. always strives for, in any activity or event that we participate in or organize.  That goal is to always put the right spirit into anything we do.  The Creator of All Things must be our guide in how these events and activities are organized and carried out.  If He is not the source of our energies, then the event will not be a success, or make the people glad that they came and joined in our celebration.  And make no mistake.  Our powwows are a celebration of our People’s survival, tenacity, creativity, humor, traditions, beliefs, and dignity, through the grace of The Creator.

It is our hope that we can build both the Lawilowan American Indian Festival and the Muddy Run Powwow into large, well-attended and well-thought-of events, that allow us to continue to contribute as much as we possibly can to defeat diabetes, as well as educate the non-Indian public about our many cultures within the culture, and dispel the many negative stereotypes about the American Indian people, that still exist today.

Arvil Meisenhelter

Lawilowan American Indian Festival, Inc.

Please feel free to contact us with any comments or questions.  You may reach Arvil Meisenhelter at walksas1one@yahoo.com .