Viewfinder: Pow-Wow Brings Native American Tradition to Attleboro

The Wollomonuppoag Indian Council continues to play host to Native Americans from all over the country,as they have for 21 years at. They first started meeting here when Fred Reynold, Cheif Big Thunder, of Attleboro approached the brothers to use the fairgrounds for their Pow-Wow.

Today many Native American live, work and go to school just as others do.They have strong ties to their traditions and the style of worship that dates back to the early ancestors of the Native Americans in the Attleboro area. The Wollomonuppoag Indians come from the lineage of King Philip.

The tribe's leadership falls to Chief Hawkeye, Mark Brintnall of Mansfield. Brintall is a Major in the U.S. Army Reserves. He found that he used a lot of his Native American training as an Army officer.

One of the highlights of the Pow-Wow was a special remembrance for a local soldier, Specialist Denise C. Poulin who died on March 31, 2011 in Afghanistan serving with the 181st Infantry. Sp. Poulin's grandfather, who is also a veteran, brought his great-grandson to the Pow-Wow to teach him the traditions of his heritage.

The drummers invited Nicolas Poulin to sit at the drum circle, which is a great honor.The next generation is as involved as their parents and grandparents have been. They are being taught the stories and the traditions by those who know them best. 

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