Indigenous heritage part of Canal Festival in Pocono Lake Region

A recent festival held in the northern Pocono Mountains celebrated not only the heritage of a 19th century canal, but also gave tribute to the indigenous roots of that very site.

The 9th annual Canal Festival was held August 20 at D&H Canal Park at Lock 31 near Hawley. Excavations have revealed evidence of an Native American encampment here of more than 250 years ago.

A major portion of that tribute includes educational performances by Frank LittleBear and his family, who have attended the festival for the last several years as part of the Red Vision Dance Team.

Wearing traditional garments, they feature examples of their ceremonial dances and song, and tell a bit about the cultural heritage of Native American tribes of both the past, and what survives to this day.

'Human first'

Frank LittleBear emphasizes that while we as human beings are highly diverse, we are one in the human race— cultures and backgrounds may differ but we have so much more in common.

With his signature humor, he tells the crowd he doesn't mind being called Indian, Native American, First Nation, Frank, and "sometimes I answer to 'hey you.'"

"We're all human first," he told the outdoor gathering. He stated that brings a message that "content of character" is more important to see than the outward differences, and the need for everyone to "be more human to each other."Dressed in the colorful regalia of their ancestral people, he and his teenage son Robert Red Wolf and daughter Victoria Dancing Eagle danced to the rhythms and calls of their music.

LittleBear explained what the '"hoot and hollering" is all about, indicating it may be expressions of sheer joy or sorrow, or have specific interpretations.

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Dispel stereotypes

Littlebear dispeled stereotypes about Native Americans promoted in old movies, such as the action of repeatedly patting a hand on the mouth as a sound is made.

"We don't do that," he said, although some calls sound similar.

Audience members were invited to participate and learn the dances. The dances themselves have special stories, passing on traditions and meaning from untold generations' past.

LittleBear and his wife have four children. He said that having his kids actively interested and involved in promoting and passing on their native traditions and culture brings him as a parent "great joy."

He said he was inspired as a youth by the example of his father and grandfather, and now to see his own children participating gives him hope.

Of Northern Cree ancestry, he traces his people back to Saskatchewan, Canada. LittleBear is of the fifth generation removed from the reservation and was brought up on the East Coast. Over the years he has visited the reservation for ceremonies.

LittleBear carried on his father's legacy a step further and obtained a doctorate in Native American Studies at the University of Utah. He is an educator, author, artist, musician and performer. He has taught from the pre-school to the university level with the goal to increase understanding and educate about the cultural diversity and significance of various indigenous tribes.

In addition to the history of the First Nations, he teaches about their modern presence. Asked about what issues Native Americans face today, one that came to mind, LittleBear said, is the lack media attention and resources given to the exploitation and disappearance of Native children off of reservations. Alcoholism and drug use remain large issues, but they have resources to help them.

He and his family have made many appearances in the Poconos, and formerly lived in Greentown, Pike County and for the last several years have been based in York, Pa.

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Progress at Canal Park

The Canal Festival is hosted by the Wayne County Historical Festival, based in Honesdale. Executive Director Carol Dunn said that they had approximately 1,000 attend the 9th annual festival, one of their biggest.

This year visitors were able to see the progress made towards restoring the interior of the 1820's Daniels' Farmhouse on the property, which also served as an inn, canal store and lodging place for the canal crews who stopped at the basin at Lock 31.

Having acquired grant funding, plaster in the interior rooms was restored and walls have been painted to match the original pastel color schemes discovered after old wallpaper was removed. Canal Park Committee Chairman Tom Colbert and Sally Talaga spent many hours on this project this summer.

Well-disguised electrical wiring was installed.

Pencil scribbling done on walls by guests at the inn has been preserved. Although presently not open to the public, the upstairs includes a dance hall where evidence of where benches were attached along the walls, was found.

Also visible to this year's festival attendees was the beginning of ground work done around the pavilion that was built in 2020. Work that has just commenced involves the construction of a replica representation of a full-scale canal boat that will be supported above the pavilion. The view from Route 6 or from the parking area will give the impression of an actual boat floating in water and tied to a snubbing post. The pavilion was used this year for the festival attendees and volunteers to enjoy a barbeque.

Some other Canal Festival highlights included a guided history walk, canal history video, live folk music, quilts, book sales, blacksmithing demonstrations, wood crafts and other exhibits and presentations.

The Delaware & Hudson Canal operated from 1828 to 1898, shipping millions of tons of anthracite coal carried by gravity railroad from Carbondale region mines to Honesdale and then carried by boat 108 miles to Kingston, NY. From there, the coal went by barge to the New York market.

D&H Canal Park at Lock 31 is the only canal park on the Pennsylvania section of the D&H canal route. It includes a mile of canal towpath used for hiking, as well as looping trails down along the Lackawaxen River. The park, one mile west of Hawley to Route 6, is open daily sunrise to sunset for the public to visit.

For more information about Wayne County Historical Society and D&H Canal Park at Lock 31, call 570-253-3240 or visit: waynehistorypa.com/museums/canalparklock31

This article originally appeared on Tri-County Independent: Native American heritage part of Canal Festival in Wayne County