Newly Crowned Seminole Royalty Debut at Schemitzun

By Iretta Tiger

NORTH STONINGTON, CT — For the Seminole Tribe, the Schemitzun Pow wow, the Pequot Tribe’s annual pow wow, has become an important first step for the newly crowned Miss Seminole and Junior Miss Seminole. Each year this is where the two ladies make their debut at this nationally known pow wow.

This is no small step considering that hundreds of people make the journey to the Pequot Reservation, and this is only the Indians. Hundreds of non-natives also come out to watch the festivities.

This year the Seminole Tribe presented Miss Seminole Brittany Yescas and Junior Miss Seminole Tianna Garcia. The two are intelligent, beautiful young women who will undoubtedly do an outstanding job in representing the Tribe.

Schemitzun is not only Yescas’ debut as Miss Seminole it is also the first time she’s ever participated in a pow wow.

“I was nervous at first, and I still am, but once I listened to the music [pow wow drums] I started to relax and get into it,” said Yescas. “I like it, it’s different”.

The pow wow has also reunited the Seminole Tribe with Litefoot and the Reach the Rez tour. The tour has taken them across the U.S. and Canada and to more than 150 Tribes. Being on the road for over a year would have taken its toll on most people but not Litefoot, his enthusiasm and commitment are stronger than ever. For updates on Reach the Rez go to www.reachtherez.org.

Featured performers at this year’s Schemitzun was Yarina, a family from Ecuador, whose music is fulfilling and energetic. Much like pow wow music, it goes to the core and comforts. Along with their music Yarina also had a booth selling traditional crafts and clothes made in Ecuador. For more information on Yarina surf to www.yarinamusic.com.

The dance competition was as exciting as ever and took place throughout the four day pow wow. Closing the pow wow was the competition awards with the dancers remaining in full regalia.

For updates on next year’s Schemitzun go to www.foxwoods.com; where you can also find out more about the Pequot Tribe.