Mashantucket ― Hundreds of veterans from every branch of the U.S. armed forces will gather Saturday for the 10th Annual Veterans Powwow at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center.

With the exception of 2020 during the pandemic, the museum has honored both Native and non-Native American veterans with the powwow each year for the last decade.

“I just like how this event gets people together and we can truly celebrate all veterans, but in particular, veterans of our native communities because a lot of these veterans were fighting for a country when their country wasn’t fighting for them,” said Nakai Clearwater Northup, the museum’s manager of outreach and public programs.

The museum’s website boasts that “100 dancers and drummers” will compete inside the two-story, glass-encased Gathering Space inside the museum. At noon, the drummers and dancers will also participate in the Grand Entry, which includes a parade of dancers along with a flag song, a flag ceremony and songs to honor the veterans.

Northup said veterans will receive a gift of sweet grass, a fragrant and naturally growing grass used by the tribe for medicine. Once the grass is braided, it is given as a gift to “say thank you and show respect.”

“Throughout Indian Country you’ll see there’s a strong respect for veterans,” he added, noting a Pequot has served in every American fought war since the Revolutionary War.

There will be Native artisan and craft vendors for guests to shop, but Robert Hayward, director of museum marketing, said the event is focused on honoring “all those who have served and are currently serving”

“In the end, its really honoring our veterans,” Hayward said.

Hayward said the museum likes to incorporate educational aspects into the event. He said there will be explanations of the various dances, such as the Eastern Traditional dance, the Southern Traditional dance and the Eastern War dance.

Northup said that the emcees will be “pretty interactive” with guests as they explain to the audience the different types of dances and their origins so everyone can understand what they are watching.

“It’s an opportunity for the native communities to be able come out and dance again,” said Northup. “Powwow is something that is a big part of a lot of our lives around here, so it gets the communities from the Northeast together.”

There are also two inter-tribal dances slated for the event, which incorporates guests from the crowd to join the dance. The Round Dance is largest of such dances and requires the audience to stand hand in hand with one another and dance in a large circle together.

Northup, who helps ensure the event runs smoothly, explained that powwows are open to everyone as an opportunity to share the tribe’s way of life.

Though it is scaled down in comparison, the Veterans Powwow is similar to Schemitzun ― the tribe’s annual Native American celebration of thanksgiving and the first fruits of the harvest ― as the event is both a tribute as well as a dance competition.

But Northup, who will also be playing a drum and singing at the powwow, said the focus of the event never waivers.

“The purpose is to honor veterans,” he said.

Though the event is open to the public, the museum offers a Veteran’s Brunch from 10:30 a.m. to noon for the first 75 veterans and active-duty servicemen and women only.

There will be food trucks from Woodfellas Pizza & Wings and Uncle D’s Blazin BBQ as well.

Hayward said the powwow is largely the same from year to year, though not for a lack of creativity. He said the veterans enjoy it every year so much so that the museum doesn’t want to significantly alter it.

“They love it so you don’t ever want to touch too much with it,” Hayward said.

IF YOU GO:

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum and Research Center is located 110 Pequot Trail.

The museum opens at 10 a.m. and the powwow will last until the doors close at 5 p.m.

The powwow is free to all active and non-active service members, including a guest. The event is open to the public for the price of the museum’s admission, which varies based on age. Children five years old and younger can enter for no charge.

k.arnold@theday.com