Mashantucket - To the hard-thumping rhythm of unison drumming and the plaintive chants of singers, elaborately costumed dancers from some 250 tribes stepped, spun and swayed across the multicolored carpet of the MGM Grand ballroom at Foxwoods Resort Casino Saturday.

The ballroom was this year's setting for the Green Corn Powwow, an event started by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe the year it opened Foxwoods in 1992. Tribes came from throughout the Northeast, West Coast, other parts of the country, Canada and Bermuda. Over the years, the event has taken place in various larger venues, including the Hartford Civic Center (now the XL Center) and the Miner Farm in North Stonington, where it included a rodeo. In keeping with the downturn in the economy, last year's event was scaled back and moved to the tribe's museum and research center.

Marjorie Colebut-Jackson, tribal councilwoman and chairwoman of the powwow, said the ballroom was chosen this year in hopes of attracting more casino patrons.

"A lot of people who come to the casino ask, 'Where are the Native Americans?'" she said. "This is our way of showing off our culture, to show them that we're still alive and celebrating our traditions."

The powwow was both an exhibition for the public of the dance styles and the wide array of traditional costumes, and a dance competition among tribal groups in categories based on age and gender.

"It keeps the culture and traditions alive," said Anthony Dean Stanton of Charleston, R.I., a member of the Narragansett tribe wearing the outfit of an Eastern woodland Indian. He wore fringed suede pants, top and moccasins, a cap of feathers and a stripe of bright white paint down his face. Stanton, whose tribal name is Crawling Wolf, said he's been participating in the powwow at Mashantucket since it began and has one suggestion for next year's event.

"It should be outside. That's just my opinion," he said.

Vendors sold wampum and other tribal jewelry as well as pottery, bows fashioned from bent tree branches, and foods such as fry bread, Indian tacos, corn soup and apple and corn fritters in the entryway outside the ballroom and on the grounds just outside the ballroom.

In the middle of the food and vendor booths, tribal members Theresa Casanova and Gary Carter were showing the way their ancestors prepared food that didn't involve lining up and placing an order. The two stood over a fire.

"This is smoked bluefish succotash," said Casanova, stirring the pot of corn, red beans and fish. "It tastes so much better when you cook it on the fire than when I cook it on my stove. We've also made cod, duck, lobster, clams and sand crabs."

Carter gave his recipe for steamed clams.

"I put a very little bit of water in the pot, then I put in the clams and put some husks of corn over them. Then I put some cod on the top to let the oil drip down," he said.

Nearby, tribal member Cristina Gray taught Linda Guskey's five grandchildren how to make corn husk dolls, while a storyteller recounted tales about rabbits and turtles.

"First, you take seven pieces of corn husk," Gray said, laying out a selection on the grass.

Guskey, from Dudley, Mass., said she's been to the powwow before with her grandchildren.

"I want to expose them to other cultures," she said.

Powwow

The Green Corn Powwow continues from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. today in the ballroom at MGM Grand at Foxwoods. The grand entry of dancers will take place at 1 p.m.; dance competitions will be from 2 to 4 p.m. and 6 to 9 p.m., with an awards ceremony following. Parking and admission are free.