They represented dozens of tribes, but gathered Saturday at the Bull Run All Nations Powwow at Riverfront Park, Loyalsock Township, as a single family united by the Great Spirit.
"We're all related," said Montoursville resident David "Many Fights" Himmelreich, a Lenape. "If we all come from the same Creator, we're all connected."
The idea of "family" was a prevailing theme during the powwow, which continues today.
"It's a big meeting of the families. Everybody is family here," said Wilbur "Red Hawk" Duck of Mill Hall, who sat in front of Hawk Standing's Learning Tipi with David "Bear Two Arrows" Hall of Huntersville.
"We're here to celebrate life and God's creation and fellowship with each other," Frank "Two Otters" Angelo said. "We are all brothers and sisters."
The powwow is a special place because it is located within yards of Canfield Island, the site of an ancient Indian village and an intersection of two major American Indian trails.
Duck said the powwow is a chance to catch up with old friends, eat, dance and honor our nation's veterans, one of whom is his daughter Marine Lance Cpl. Brandy Duck, who recently returned from a tour of duty in Iraq.
Dancing was performed in the Sacred Circle, a roped-off area in the center of which smoldered a wood fire. Nearby, a group drummed and chanted for each dance.
According to master of ceremonies Richard "Grey Owl" Greene, the Sacred Circle represents the cycle of life and there is great power within it.
Four years ago, he attended the powwow with his wife, who was dying from a painful form of bone cancer.
Greene said his wife, who died shortly after the powwow, entered the Sacred Circle and was pain-free for the first time in months.
Greene said he was asked by co-organizers David "Tree" Gubber and Donna "White Pony" Faus to attend the event this year as emcee. Greene said he was honored to be invited.
"My wife crossed over four years ago this weekend," he said. "When I had the opportunity to come to this powwow, I jumped on it. I was excited."
Following the opening ceremonies and grand entry dance, which featured a parade of Indians in full regalia, a special dance was held for veterans. Gubber, who is a veteran, invited all veterans or the family members of veterans to participate in the dance.
Before he did that, however, he asked for a moment of silence for Marine Lance Cpl. Abram L. Howard, a local soldier who died recently in Afghanistan.
"If it weren't for those who've given the ultimate sacrifice ... we wouldn't have what we have today," Gubber said, his voice choked with emotion. "We wouldn't have our freedom and our peace."
Cogan Station resident John "Spirit Walker" Bliss, who said he is a disabled Vietnam veteran, said reverence for veterans permeates Indian culture.
"Native Americans have done more to honor veterans than other groups," Bliss said. "They have a veterans dance and are very in touch with veterans in general."
His father-n-law, Morvan "Buck" Harris, who also is a Vietnam veteran, agreed.
"They do a good job of honoring vets," Harris said.
Other special dances were held, including traditional dances for men and women, and a healing "jingle" dance by young women, each wearing regalia outfitted with 365 metal cones.
Vendors sold a wide array of native items, among them furs, hides, feather fans, jewelry, T-shirts, knives, dream catchers, pipes, wooden flutes and clothing.
There also were plenty of food vendors on hand.
While Cindy Gardner performed face-painting for children, her husband Shawn Gardner of Fair Chase Designs of Montoursville, sold custom-made bows, arrows, quivers, jewelry, antler and bone carvings and other items in a nearby tipi.
Gardner painted a native horse on the face of Kathryn Reichard, 7, of Mifflinburg, who was attending the powwow with her parents Jennifer and Bill Reichard, and grandparents Kathy and Frank Mertz.
Jennifer Reichard said she and her family have attended the event for "five or six years in a row."
"We really enjoy the native tradition and love to watch the dancers," she said.
Karen Wolf of Wolf Spirit Jewelry of Lebanon, said she attended the powwow last year and could not wait to attend this year.
"This is one of the most beautiful places and has some of the best people I've ever had the pleasure of being with," Wolf said. "The people love each other and take care of each other."
"It's a spiritual gathering ... when the dancers are in the circle, they are praying," she said. "That's our church."
Leslie Scott, of Soldier's Angels, a non-profit group dedicated to providing deployed soldiers with letters and care packages from home, said she was excited to have a display about the organization at the powwow.
"Dave (Gubber) invited us and asked us to come down," Scott said. "(The response to the organization) has been really, really good."
Scott, who was assisted by her husband Chris, who is an Army veteran, said the organization matches up deployed veterans with people willing to send them at least one letter a week and one care package a month.
The idea is to make sure all deployed soldiers know there is someone back home who is thinking about and supporting them, she said.
The organization's Web site is www.soldiersangels.org, she said.
Donna Krempasky of Avis stood examining a wooden flute displayed at a booth maintained by Redbird Flutes, of Bel Air, Md.
Krempasky said she and her husband David attended the powwow because they are both interested in American Indian culture. The couple's wedding ceremony featured the reading of a native proverb, Krempasky said.
"We've read about the Bull Run Powwow in the newspaper and heard about it for six years," she said. "We finally decided to come and see what it's all about."
Gubber said he was "overwhelmed" by the turnout for the powwow and expressed hope that even more people will attend today.
"The turnout has been great, but there is always room for more," Gubber said.
Gates open at 10 a.m. There is no cover charge but donations are accepted for the U.S. Marine Corps Toys for Tots program.
