Shinnecock Nation powwow draws record attendance, tribal chair says

The Shinnecock Nation's annual powwow over Labor Day weekend drew record attendance as the community marked the 80th year the event was open to the public, reporter Christine Sampson said.

"We want our neighbors to get to know us and know our cultures and our traditions," tribal chairwoman Lisa Gory said in an interview aired on East End News. Sampson and attendees described dancing, drumming, traditional foods, and artisans from across the region who participated despite some rain.

Why this matters: the powwow is both a cultural celebration and an outreach opportunity; organizers and participants said expanded attendance helped connect Indigenous traditions to a broader public and supported vendors and performers from the Northeast and beyond.