North Stonington— Spectators rose and stood Sunday afternoon as members of the Eastern Pequot tribe entered the spiritual circle alongside representatives from other tribes.

Drumming ensued and mimicked a heartbeat as the members, dressed in various styles of regalia, bounced and lightly stomped in circles, barely raising their legs so as to caress the earth.

The members of the tribal nation had come from all over to celebrate it’s annual powwow at its reservation on Wright Road. This year’s powwow was held in memory of Roy Sebastian, better known as Chief Hockeo, the tribe’s lifetime sachem and longtime spiritual leader, who died May 31.

“His spirit lives on in all of us,” said Brenda Geer, vice-chairman of the tribe’s council.

Geer said tribal members will continue to be stewards of the land the way Chief Hockeo was and they will “stop and listen” as he often told them to do. Geer also said she finds it important to educate the younger generations of Eastern Pequots, much like the former chief did.

“You can see all the young people present today. This is why we continue the tradition,” she said. “They’ll remember this.”

Council Chairman Mitchel Ray said he was feeling great about Sunday’s powwow especially as the tribe is commemorating the 20th anniversary of the June 24, 2002 “Final Determinations” that granted it federal recognition. The decision was reversed three years later and the tribe has worked to regain that recognition ever since.

The Eastern Pequot tribal nation has about 1,500 members with close to 20 living on the reservation.

Ray recognized Chief Hockeo during the powwow and the members held a moment of silence for him. That was followed by different traditional dances, a naming ceremony, prayer and the swearing in of the tribe’s council.

Geer said she was amazed so many people attended the event despite the hot weather. She said at least seven or eight other tribes were there to celebrate with them.

Bear Eagle, the chief of the Golden Hill Paugussett tribe in Colchester, said the tribes try to support each other.

“We’re all natives,” he said.

Some in attendance were not members of the tribe but attended as invited guests.

Julia Kushigian, a professor at Connecticut College, attend her first powwow after being invited by her friend on the tribal council, Valerie Gambrell. Kushigian said she was not only impressed with the diversity of tribal representation but the amount of people present on such a hot but beautiful day.

Kushigian said she has heard her friend speak about how the tribe is fighting to be federally recognized, and it was nice to be present at the powwow and see what they are fighting for.

“We’re happy there’s been a nice turnout and the powwow was in honor of Chief Hockeo, our dad,” said Catherine Sebastian, former vice-chair of the council.

Catherine sat at a picnic table with her sisters Gwen and Patricia and her granddaughter Ivy. All of them were dressed in traditional regalia with two in buckskin dresses.

Gwen, traveling from Pennsylvania, said her father was well informed and very active politically. Growing up on the reservation, she said their father taught them to honor the land and be thankful for the earth.

Patricia spent the last ten years living with her father and said they enjoyed that time eating well together. Patricia said she was happy with Sunday’s turnout and to see families come from afar after being unable to attend during the COVID-19 pandemic. Apart from socializing among members, Patricia said the powwow was also a great way of networking.

“It’s different but we feel his spirit. He was so dedicated and determined to be at all ceremonies,” Catherine said about her father, adding he always tried to be at every tribal member’s burial.

“We celebrate life and death and are taught our ancestors are always with us. I feel him but I do miss his physical presence,” she said.

Chief Hockeo, whose birthday was July 25, would have turned 96 on Monday.