Published: June 30, 2008 08:34 pm      

TUSCARORA NATION: Field Days tradition continuing

Organizers tout family-friendly event with lots of entertainment

It’s hard to beat the Tuscaroras when it comes to local traditions.

Witness, for example, the upcoming Picnic and Field Days. It will be the 163rd consecutive year the event is held on the Lewiston reservation.

“We get people from all walks of life, from all over the country,” said Neil Patterson Sr. “And they’re not all Native Americans.”

The event takes place July 11 and 12, getting started with a flag presentation that Friday at 5 p.m. and again on Saturday at 7:30 a.m. with the Donation Breakfast.

“It goes on until everybody gets tired,” Patterson said of the breakfast. “Or they run out of eggs.”

In the meantime, there will be a continuous stream of performances, shows and concerts to complement vendors selling everything from picnic food to Native American arts and crafts.

Old favorites such as the 10K and 2.5-mile races (9 a.m. July 12), Smoke Dances (during the day July 12), the donation breakfast and the parade (11 a.m. July 12) will be back. The event takes place near the Tuscarora Indian School on the corner of Walmore and Mount Hope roads.

As is typical with events on the Tuscarora reservation, volunteers Patterson Sr. and Kenneth Patterson emphasized the sense of community at the Field Days.

“We all have friends that come to the picnic,” said Kenneth. “We sit around and gab and tell stories.”

Nor is it aimed solely at Native Americans — although former residents of the reservation flock to their old home from areas near and far.

“I befriended a man from Poland and he was a good friend of ours for a long time,” Patterson Sr. said. “It’s a fun time. There’s no pressure except for the volunteers.”

The event has attracted anywhere from 3,000 to 5,000 people in recent years —partly because of the eclectic entertainment list which includes the gospel, rock and blues music, the princess contest and beginning flag ceremony, which includes traditional Native American dance.

Patterson Sr. called the event “more of a happening than the picnic” with people setting up lawn chairs to relax and have fun.

“It’s a family event, a real family event,” he said. “We’re just there to have fun and enjoy each other’s company.”



IF YOU GO

• WHAT: 163rd annual Tuscarora Picnic and Field Days

• WHEN: Beginning with 5 p.m. flag presentation July 11 and 7:30 a.m. breakfast July 12

• WHERE: Near the Tuscarora Indian School on the corner of Walmore and Mount Hope roads