In Native American communities, August is typically a month of harvest celebrations. And in New England, tribes ranging from the Eastern Pequots to the Narragansetts move from location to location every week to support each one.

This weekend, the Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation will be holding its own: Schemitzun, the Feast of Green Corn and Dance honoring Mantoo (creator). And, with it, several visiting tribes and drum groups from New England and as far away as Nova Scotia and North Carolina will be coming to reservation for the festivities — all of which will take place Saturday and Sunday on the Mashantucket Cultural Grounds.

Schemitzun, which started in 1992, used to be the biggest powwow event in North America, says Wayne Reels, a member of the organizing committee and of the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe. And although the celebration has decreased in size since, it’s still one of the largest powwows around and is a great way to share traditions and ceremonies with the locals, Reels says.

“This event throughout history was really a way to bring tribes together, so now, through this festival, we are celebrating that and keeping the memory of this alive through song, dance and food,” Reels says.

Dancing will be showcased by the many visiting tribes, says Reels, who has travelled the world as a Native American dancer.

“Each dance has a meaning, and each one is giving thanks,” he says. “Many of the dances represent movements of the grass, to the animals of the forest, to the birds in the sky, and even the fish in the sea. It all relates back to what our creator has given us, and all of them are very intricate.”

The Men’s Fancy Feather Dance and Women’s Fancy Shawl Dance are the two performances that Reels says may resonate with the most with audiences, and both are included in this year’s line-up.

“These dances originated in the southern plains, and they are very fast dances, which are furious, bright and colorful. There is a lot of movement and energy, and for audiences, it’s these dances that seem to strike them the most,” Reels says.

Included in the dance line-up will be a Grand Entry, a flag song performed in native language, a victory song, a pipe ceremony, the Green Corn Dance Ceremony and a tribal dancing exhibition and competition among the dozens of tribes that will be coming to the festival.

Mashantucket’s Schemitzun will also offer visitors the chance to speak directly with the dancers, craftsmen and visiting tribes.

“That’s one of the great things about this celebration. Anyone can approach anyone and ask them anything of interest, whatever they want to know about,” Reels says. “It’s a very open celebration.”

Demonstrations of indigenous arts including wampum-making, storytelling, net-making, and beadworking from over 30 craftsmen will be featured, along with food and dance competitions — ample opportunity for anyone to learn about the traditions that once reigned throughout the land.

Schemitzun, 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Sat. and 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Sun., Mashantucket reservation: $8 ($5 seniors and kids, free for kids under 5); Grand Entry at noon and 6 p.m. Sat. and noon Sun.; no parking on festival site, but free shuttles run between the site and parking lots at Foxwoods Resort Casino, Two Trees Inn and the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center; (860) 396-2136, schemitzun.mptn-nsn.gov.