Powhatan Red-Cloud Owen, Mohawk/Chickahominy, is a tribal member and an American Indian activist for the Chickahominy Tribe that has actively sought federal recognition from the Commonwealth of Virginia since 1999.

He was a liaison and representative for the eight tribes of Virginia for the planning of the Jamestown Commemoration in 2007. As a pow wow organizer, Red-Cloud Owen has more than 25 years of experience.

In an interview with Indian Country Today, he spoke about himself, how he feels about being an American Indian, and the do’s and don’ts of organizing and running a successful pow wow.

Indian Country Today: First, could you tell us a little bit about yourself?

Red-Cloud Owen: I was born to the Haudenosaunee “people of the longhouse” in the year of the

budding trees in 1948. At the age of 15, I moved to Virginia to live with my mother’s people, the Chickahominy in Charles City County, where I finished school at Samaria Indian High School.

I entered the Army in February of 1968. I was sent to Vietnam and was wounded in December of 1968 and Medivacced (transported by helicopter) to a hospital in Japan. I left the Army in 1970 and started working at Sears, Roebuck and Co. where I remained for 35 years, retiring in 2005. In July of 2005, I started working as a Native American advisor for the Jamestown 400th Anniversary celebration. I was the liaison between the Eight Tribes of Virginia and the Jamestown organizers.

I also was a member of the Virginia Indian Tribal Drum group made up of tribal members of the Eight Tribes of Virginia. In July of 2006 I traveled to Kent, England along with 54 members and chiefs of the Eight Tribes of Virginia and participated in several events including drumming at The Big Day Out, a countrywide festival in Gravesend, (England.)

I have also served on the 2007 Virginia Indian Advisory Council, and helped organize the American Indian Intertribal Cultural Festival and served as CO and emcee; that was held in Hampton, Va.

As a Vietnam veteran, I have spoken to many schools and have been on panels speaking about Native people that have served this country. I have to say, I am proud to be an indigenous person of Turtle Island and it was an honor to serve and protect it. I have also presented at Virginia Tech, the University of Virginia, the Virginia War Memorial as well as pow wows all over Virginia.

ICT: That is quite impressive; it is amazing that you have accomplished so much in your life while still gaining experience as a pow wow organizer. But this leads to the question, just how long have you been organizing pow wows?

Owen: I have been organizing and helping in pow wows for over 25 years. I also organized the first Virginia Nations Powwow Gathering in May of 2002. Later that same year, I organized the first Virginia Nations Honoring Veterans Powwow. I have to say now though, that the years are catching up to me and I can’t dance like I used to, so I’ll slow down and I help when I can, and I also do some emcee work here and there.

ICT: With so much experience under your belt, what would you say is some of the best advice to help a pow wow run smoothly?

Owen: To have a good staff. I do not do all this alone. Planning should be done way in advance and have regular committee meetings and follow-ups.

ICT: That sounds like good advice. However, even with the best planning, sometimes things can go astray. What is one of your worst experiences in organizing a

pow wow?

Owen: Some of the worst nightmares I have had in putting a pow wow together is having the port-a-john company call and say, ‘Oh, we thought the event was next week, we don’t have enough port-a-johns for you.’ Then you have to scramble around and try to find a company close by to help you out.

Another is one time I hired a lead male and female dancer that were a couple. Well, they both came down with the flu and did not bother to call until the night before the pow wow. In the 25 years of doing this I have found that you have to roll with it and do the best you can with what you have. Having a good staff with plenty of contacts is a

big plus.

ICT: What is one of your best experiences?

Owen: The first Gathering of Virginia Nations Powwow. I had called around to the eight tribes to get volunteers and set up meetings to start a workday a few days before the pow wow. Well, a few days before the event we had to set up a drum arbor. As I was working, I happened to look over at the crew working on the drum arbor and I witnessed seven different tribal members from the eight tribes coming together and working together, laughing and having fun. This warmed my heart; that our people of different tribes could come and have a good time for a good cause.

ICT: If someone wants to organize a pow wow that does not have much experience, what is most important to concentrate on?

Owen: My best advice, once again, is to have a good staff. Enlist people that know protocol and are as dedicated to the project as you are. Form committees that will handle matters such as parking, food, trash, clean up, set-up and takedown tasks.

Be sure to advertise your event by newspaper or radio and TV. Have a vendor committee or a person that will handle this. Try to have Native vendors, of course, and if they are you should not have any foreign-made merchandise sold.

Most important is your head staff, hire a good emcee and head lady and man dancer. A good drum is important; this will bring dancers to your event. Make sure the homeland tribe in your area is supportive of your event.