With their colorful regalia and sparkling embellishments flashing in the sunlight, Native American dancers of all ages, looking like works of art, made their grand entry into a sacred arena as the sounds of singing and drumming rang out.
The start of the Third Annual Cumberland County Culture Class Powwow on May 3 was underway. As the afternoon unfolded, participants would compete for cash prizes in a variety of dance specials. An event emcee made introductions and kept the competition moving at a lively pace.
Held on grounds adjacent to the Cumberland County Association for Indian People, an afterparty dance, featuring a DJ closed out the festivities.
Nina Martinez says the powwow came about due to popular demand from the Native American community in the Fayetteville area who participate in the Cumberland County Culture Class, where she is an instructor. Her husband, William “Nakoma” Maiden, founded the program in 2016 to deepen awareness and understanding of Native American traditions, including music and dance.
“A lot of our students love dancing and singing, so we started the powwow to create a safe and enjoyable space for the kids and their families,” Martinez said. “One of our goals was to help build cultural awareness about American Indians locally, and in doing that, not only can we help preserve our culture and get our kids excited about it, but we also have an opportunity to spread awareness and education to our non-Native neighbors.”
Martinez said a variety of tribes were represented at the powwow — including Cherokee, Lumbee, Haliwa-Saponi, Occaneechi-Saponi, Coharie, Sappony, Waccamaw Siouan, Tuscarora, Meherrin, Apache, Blackfeet, Yaqui, Taíno and Navajo.
“There are a lot of powwows in North Carolina and a lot of the tribes and communities show up to help support us,” Martinez said, adding that, while other tribes across the southeast and beyond may not have been listed, they were still present to celebrate and support. “So, we think of it as an extended family gathering that serves a greater purpose.”
Martinez’s heritage is Haliwa-Saponi, Apache and Yaqui, and her children identify with those three nations.
The Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage defines powwows as reflecting real, lived experiences among Native American communities. They are “ceremonial gatherings with traditional music and dances. They happen around the world and throughout the year.” According to the “Powwow Calendar” on PowWows.com — a website aiming “to provide a place where everyone can experience and explore Native American culture” — there are about 20 powwows across North Carolina, including the annual Running Waters Powwow taking place in Fayetteville on Sept. 6.
Celestine Raineri-Smith has lived in Fayetteville almost her entire life. She is of Blackfeet heritage on her mother’s side and Taíno on her father’s side. She grew up attending powwows, but drifted away from tradition until three years ago, when she enrolled her two daughters in the Cumberland County Culture Class.
“The class has impacted us in a positive way, and we appreciate that everybody, both Native and non-Native, is welcome,” she said. “My children love singing and dancing and competing at powwows.”
Raineri-Smith’s daughters, Giuliana, 14, and Genevieve, 9, have won dance awards, but that’s not the only reason they participate. It is important that they learn the varied traditions, beliefs and practices of other regions.
“My children have learned a lot beyond what I can explain to them, and we want to teach them to be respectful of the ways here where my family originates,” she said. “They like to go out there and dance for themselves, and for those who can no longer dance, and to bring good medicine to anybody who is watching.”
Read CityView Magazine‘s e-edition of the 2025-2026 issue of DestinationFAY here.