Old Fort Niagara hosting Native Nations at Niagara

May 11—Old Fort Niagara will host its second annual smoke dance competition, Native Nations at Niagara today.

The Smoke Dance was originally a Haudenosaunee war dance, primarily danced by men, but has expanded within competition dance to include and highlight female dancers.

The fort is welcoming local and nationwide competitors to dance throughout the day. Visitors will be able to watch as dancers compete for prizes, learn about traditional and historic Native regalia, and talk to the Fort's interpretive staff about the connection that Fort Niagara has to the Haudenosaunee and other Native communities during the Fort's almost 300-year history. Visitors will also be able to peruse a variety of native crafts persons, artisans and food vendors.

Executive Director Bob Emerson said the event was the idea of volunteer Jordan Smith, a Native American interpreter who lives on the Tuscarora Reservation. A national champion smoke dancer himself, he reached out to other nations across the country to take part.

"It's a nice way to learn about the Native culture, music, and stories associated with the various dances," said Emerson. "It's educational as well as entertaining."

Several stories have evolved around the naming of the smoke dance. In one story, the dancers' fast spinning in small circles is believed to emulate the curling of smoke. Another story revolves around Haudenosaunee longhouses. In these dwellings, smoke would sometimes linger. To help the smoke dissipate dancers would try to "chase" the wafts of smoke through the hole in the ceiling by swiftly dancing in circles in an attempt to push the smoke up out of the house.

While dancers appear to move effortlessly, the world of Haudenosaunee dance is complex. Each dance is dependent upon different drumbeats, different chants and specific foot movements that each dancer can interpret into their style.

New in 2024 will be the inclusion of hoop dance demonstrations by a national champion Native hoop dancer. The hoop dance is a traditional celebration of the creation, Mother Earth and healing. The dance's style mimics the movements of animals such as horses, birds and even insects.

Old Fort Niagara would like to stress our gratitude to the participants and visitors for facilitating the sharing of Native cultures and knowledge. These perspectives have historically been overlooked and undervalued, and we look forward to continued collaboration with our local Indigenous communities to reinforce the importance of the Haudenosaunee's historical presence at the Fort.

The public is invited to watch and learn about this important piece of regional culture. Winners will be announced after the competitions end, with cash prizes being offered.