Show set to celebrate island’s Native American roots

A city centre celebration of Bermuda’s Native American heritage is to be held on Saturday.

Roots, Rock, Cherokee and Me will mark the contribution made by Native Americans, brought here as slaves following revolts against British settlement in North America.

The show will feature US Professor Ron Welburn, of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst  and Native American performers.

Chairman of the organising committee, Sinclair ‘Brinky’ Tucker, said: “Many Native Americans were involved in Bermuda years ago, so there are many Bermudians from all walks of life who are descended from them.

“The interest is very high with regards to what we’re doing — during the last 10 years, the Native American community here has really come alive.”

Mr Tucker said the event was the brainchild of the late Edward McDonald Welch, who worked to keep alive the memory of the island’s Native American population.

He said Mr Welch had aimed to put on a show like this in the Earl Cameron Theatre at Hamilton’s City Hall, but died last December.

But his family wanted the event to go ahead and enlisted Mr Tucker to help make Mr Welch’s dream come true.

Mr Tucker, from St David’s and who also has Native American ancestors, said: “His family really wanted it to go ahead in his honour. I picked up the ball and ran with it. He was a personal friend of mine and two days prior to his passing, he was at my house discussing this.

“He was very passionate about history, both in Bermuda and abroad and also his Native American ancestry.”

Mr Welch’s great-grandmother was Jane Gibbons, a Cherokee, who had been brought to Bermuda as a slave at the age of 12, and who grew up here and later married in St John’s Church, Pembroke.

Mr Tucker said it was estimated that hundreds of Bermudians today are related to Ms Gibbons, many of them residents in the Bailey’s Bay area.

Professor Welburn, himself of Cherokee ancestry, is a widely-published writer and poet and has coordinated creative writing and Native American workshops across the north east of the US.

He directs the Native American Indian Studies programme at his university.

He will be joined by Native American flautist Ron Warren, who has performed at major arts festivals across the US, as well as at traditional Native American gatherings, called pow wows.

And Janice Torres, a Taino Indian, the indigenous people of the Caribbean, who has performed traditional music for 30 years as well as creating jewellery based on her ancient culture, will sing.

Mr Tucker said: “I have been to many pow wows in the US and you see yourself reflected in the faces of the people there.

“Despite the trials and tribulations they have suffered over the years, they have maintained their culture and are proud of it.”

But Mr Tucker added the evening — to be held on Saturday, March 16, at City Hall from 7pm and under the patronage of former PLP MP Dale Butler — was not just for those who claim Native American descent.

He said: “It’s amazing what you can learn from other people’s cultures and the United States is just next door to us.

“It’s also important that the impact and contribution made by Native American peoples, with members of tribes from North America to South America coming to Bermuda at one point or another, should not be forgotten.”

Tickets are priced at $20 for adults and $10 for children aged 13 and under. Tickets can be booked in advance by contacting Mr Tucker on 297-1597.