My Trip to the Gathering, by Cayla McGee

Cayla Magee

Note: this story was written by Delaware tribal member Cayla Magee, age 9, who was part of a tribal delegation attending “Maawehlahtiit” (Gathering of Our Relatives) on the Stockbridge-Munsee Reservation in Wisconsin. The delegation was led by Chief Chet Brooks and included elected leaders, elders, veterans, and youth.

On Tuesday 7/21/15, my grandad Curtis Zunigha, Paula Pechonick, Anna Pechonick, my mom Erica Magee, and I left the tribal center at 9:30 am in a tribal van. We drove to Albert Lea, MN. Along the way, we beaded on some earrings. We also learned some Lenape words. Lenape Ni means ‘I am Lenape’ and Lenape hach ki means ‘Are you Lenape.’ That was the first time I went through 5 states in one day. We stopped and ate a wonderful dinner. We were full, we went to our hotel, the Motel 6. It wasn’t that nice of a hotel but I still had an ok time.

On Wednesday 7/22/15, the group and I left our hotel in Albert Lea, MN around 9:45 am, after breakfast at Perkins. We crossed the Mississippi river into Wisconsin around 11:30. It was Anna and I’s first time at the Mississippi River. There were a lot of farms with big silos and barns along the way. Finally, we arrived at the Stockbridge-Munsee Band of Mohicans reservation. We checked into the North Star Casino and Hotel around 1:00 pm. We unpacked and I immediately knew that it was going to be a great trip. After the group got changed, we all went to the powwow grounds and checked into the Gathering. We went to the hotel and it was hard to fall asleep because I was so excited for the next day!

On Thursday 7/23/15 we ate breakfast at the hotel buffet. The food was so yummy! We went to the powwow grounds and watched the color guards bring in all the flags. The Eastern communities talked about their history that morning. After lunch Anna, mom, Paula, and I set up a teaching tent. While Paula and mom displayed Lenape regalia and stomp dance cans, Anna and I went swimming in the West Branch Red River. We met one of the local girls, Lorretta, who showed us around the campgrounds. Around the arena was a road that lead to the swimming hole. Across the road was camping spots. There were over 200 people who came to the gathering. Each community sponsored a meal. That night we had Indian tacos. Our group led the evening program of social and stomp dances. My mom wore turtle shells and I wore the cans and shook a lot of the stomp dance songs. A few of my favorite social dances from that night were the Bean Dance, the Go Get ‘Em Dance and the Duck Dance.

On Friday 7/24/15 after breakfast, our group went to the grounds. The Stockbridge-Munsee and the Canadians spoke then we had lunch. We met several other kids from the reservation and even got to visit with some close friends that came from Green Bay for the Gathering. After lunch we helped work the booth. Anna and I rigged up 12 or more girls with cans during the stomp dance workshop. Mom and I got interviewed for a documentary. Anna and I helped serve supper. I tried to wear the turtle shells for the stomp dance that night, but they were too heavy, so I let my Auntie Martina wear them. At the end of the night Bruce Stonefish and his daughter showed us the stick dance. The drum was a deer hide with several long sticks around it. The men tapped it with special drum sticks and sang special songs. The songs got faster and faster. It was fun!

On Saturday, 7/25/15 our chief Chet Brooks talked about our history that morning. Anna and I slept in that day. My mom came back and got us and Paula before lunch. We stopped at the museum and learned about the medicine wheel, dugout canoes and a basket weaving. Each of us kids read about one of the displays. Next we went to the gift shop general store. It was owned by the tribe. We all played in the creek all day until supper.

Bonnie Jo, Kay, Martina, John, and a few other of our Oklahoma group cooked fry bread, corn soup, and grape dumplings for the big supper that night. Bella, my friend from Green Bay, and I helped serve supper.

We dressed for powwow in Delaware clothes. My grandad was proud of me. At the powwow Anna and I were recognized by the elder women. I was given a really cool pair of beaded earrings. My grandad was recognized too, by the committee.

On Sunday 7/26/15 after breakfast at the casino, again we went to the grounds for a healing ceremony. Each of us took cedar in each hand and put it into the fire. One was forgiveness of self and one was forgiveness of others. We all took a big group photo. It was sad to leave, but I was excited to see my daddy and brother again.

We drove to Albert Lea MN. and stayed at the same hotel and the same restaurant!

Sunday 7/27/15 we left the motel that morning and went to go eat breakfast around 8:00 am, we crossed state lines into Iowa around 10:00 am, we crossed state lines into Missouri 2:00, Kansas 5:00, Oklahoma 8:00 I was glad I was home.

Heading to the Gathering (Curtis, Erica, Cayla, and Anna)
Rez Casino.
Molly, Erica, Tammy, and Sheila; Curtis leads the Bean Dance.
Lacrosse game; social songs.
Dugout canoe.
Erica, Cayla, and Curtis; Lloyd and Molly Miller.
Gathering group photo; finally returning home!