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Historical Treaty Signed At Rendezvous

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By BARBARA ROUTEN, Tribune correspondent

Published: February 27, 2008

Updated: 02/25/2008 07:56 pm

HOMELAND - Modern-day history was made Jan. 21 at the Alafia River Rendezvous, a pre-1840 interpretive encampment at the Florida Frontiersmen's site in Homeland.

Inside the permanent powwow circle, faintly outlined by tall, thin red cedars, a real treaty - not a re-enactment - was made between the Sovereign Government Platform Reservation Remnant Band Indiana Shawnee, represented by Chief Charlie "Two Hats" Banta, and the American Me'tis Aboriginal Association Church of the Me'tis Tribe, represented by Chief Terry "Red Hawk" Harris. Bartow Mayor Brian Hinton witnessed the signing in the presence of about 100 native North Americans.

"Our dreams of uniting our peoples together for the greater good have come to pass," reads the treaty. "It is time to end the divisions between the nations and join together standing side by side."

By signing the treaty, the Shawnee acknowledged that the Me'tis are equals. The Me'tis are "a mixed-blood ethnic race of people who are of American Indian ancestry mixed with the blood of European, African or Asian peoples," according to the Me'tis Web site, www.amaametis church.org.

The signing of the treaty was celebrated Jan. 26 at another rendezvous powwow hosted by the Peace River Band. The gathering included the other two Me'tis bands in Florida: the Shadow Band and St. John's River Band.

Waiting outside the powwow circle, members talked about the extreme weather - the deluge, cold and unseasonable heat they had experienced during their week of camping at the rendezvous.

"When you enjoy this lifestyle, you inure yourself to the weather," said Harley "White Horse" Haubenstricker of Dundee, 72.

"Like our ancestors - when it gets cold, we get cold, and when it gets hot, we get hot," said Duane "Spirit Wolf" Bickmire of Lakeland. To indicate the start of the powwow, Doreen "Speckled Frog" Robb began striking a simple, even beat on a small hand drum, hitting it with a mallet about once a second. According to custom, the elders entered first, from the east side, and circled to the left.

Once all were in a circle, either standing or sitting, Robb ritually invoked the grandfathers' spirits. She sang in a native language as she first faced north, then east, south, west and toward the ground, inviting spirits from all directions and from Mother Earth.

Marsha "Woman Who Hunts" Taylor of Groveland, acting state chief as of September, walked around the inside of the human circle with a burning bundle of sage. Each person wafted the sage smoke over them to "be cleansed of any bad feelings or bad thoughts ... so we may pray and sing in a sacred manner," Taylor said.

Taylor offered a prayer, then introduced band chiefs present, Chief Dale "Running Wolf" Epley of St. John's River Band, the new state elder, and Chief Clayton "Iron Hand" Graves of the Peace River Band. The third chief was unable to attend.

Dan "White Wolf" Rivers announced his bid to become state chief. Taylor's husband, Ed "Gray Wolf" Taylor, state and Peace River Band spiritual leader, nominated his wife. After paper ballots were cast and counted, Rivers was pronounced the new state chief.

One of the Me'tis national elders, Tony "Owl" Villanti of Palm Bay, whose signature is on the treaty, said, "The treaty was signed this week as recognition that the Me'tis are a sovereign nation." He invited all to come to his lodge to see the document.

While these historical events occurred, life went on as usual at the rendezvous. Michelle and Marty Burgess of Brandon learned the art of setting up and taking down a new teepee.

Valrico residents Steven and Dorri Warren and their boys, Brandon, 16, and Caleb, 8, and Ken and Michelle Perry and their children, Michael, 16,Melannie, 10, and Marina, 8, enjoyed the rendezvous' living history lesson with other members of the Families Instructing Students at Home, a home-school fellowship at Bell Shoals Baptist Church in Brandon.

Valrico resident Robert Mion, 14, enjoyed target practice at the tomahawk and knife range. He camped with his folks, Bryan and Loretta, and siblings Nicole, Matthew, Elizabeth and Sasha and other friends from the Brandon Home School Fellowship group.

In years past, Tom and Annette Marr of Lithia have joined other members of Fort Alafia Restoration Ministries of Plant City as day visitors, store owners and ice runners.

"This year we came just to camp," said Tom Marr. But they set out some handmade, hand-me-down period clothes for sale on sheets on the ground.

Cindy Staniski of DeBary and Tama Carter of Palm Bay browsed through the offerings. Carter's son Ethan, 14, sat cross-legged on the ground, head down and chin in his hands, looking as bored as any modern teenage boy shopping with his mother, unaware that around the corner from him history was in the making.

Send news and photos of community interest to Barbara Routen at The Tampa Tribune, 505 W. Robertson St., Brandon FL 33511, e-mail neighbors@tampabay .rr.com or call (813) 657-4531.

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