The Schemitzun Tradition: Mashantucket Pequot Green Corn & Dance Feast

MASHANTUCKET, CT — An ancient Native tradition, the end-of-summer harvest is at once a celebration and a ceremony of gratitude.

It's a time to "give thanks to the Creator for our rich heritage while honoring our ancestors, warriors, veterans, and Elders," as explained by the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe on its annual festival Schemitzun.

The Feast of Green Corn and Dance is held at the Mashantucket Pequot Cultural Grounds, "in the heart of one of America’s oldest Indian reservations."

The annual family-friendly celebration, Schemitzun features traditional and contemporary tribal dance exhibitions, drum and live music, and authentic Native American-made crafts. The 17th century Eastern Woodland Village exhibit offers fascinating demonstrations of traditional Pequot cultural practices including fire-pit cooking, wampum and fish net making, loom beadwork and basketry, according to the Tribe.

And then there's the food.

"Authentic Native American cuisine prepared by celebrated New England Native chefs is sure to satisfy every appetite," the Tribe notes. "Sample hearty chowders, local fish, wild game and seasonal fruit beverages prepared the old ways, along with contemporary fare such as Indian tacos, burgers, fry bread, unique desserts and more."

"Schemitzun takes place each year with the intention of thanking the Creator for the harvest. In the past, it brought all 26 Pequot villages together, and today brings people from near and far," according to Tribal Cultural Resources director Wayne Reels.

The pandemic shuttered the feast, like so many other time-honored events, but it's back for 2023. The feast is set for Aug. 26 and 27th in Mashantucket.

For much more information about Schemitzun 2023, click here.