(ISSUE, MD) The 2010 Piscataway Green Corn Festival wrapped up on September 26 on what was a rainy day for most of Southern Maryland.
While gray skies and wet weather prevailed over the state for most of the day, the grounds in Issue, MD where the Green Corn Festival was held enjoyed blue skies and beautiful weather for the entire event, allowing the approximately 100 festival participants to enjoy the tribe’s most eventful seasonal festival yet.
Tribal members and guests enjoyed a touch football game, tomahawk throwing tournament, two-round potato dance contest, and a “nut kicking contest”, in addition to the traditional feasting and dancing that accompanies the tribe’s signature cultural celebration. Also in attendance were special guests: Maryland Senator Thomas Middleton and Charles County Commissioner Reuben Collins. The pair were invited by the tribe’s Legislative Affairs Director Barry Wilson, and encouraged tribal members to make a significant turnout in what are shaping up to be incumbent-hostile elections in November.
Pervasive rain elsewhere in the region accompanied by a relatively late flyer advertisement kept attendance at this year’s festival low compared to last year’s attendance of nearly 200, but high participation in other tribal activities has allayed any concern that “interest” in tribal celebrations is waning. Enjoying particular popularity are the tribe’s political organization efforts; the Maryland Indian Voter Roll now boats over 3,000 according to the Piscataway Communications Office.
The tribe’s Feast for the Elders next month will round out the seasonal festivals for 2010. A photo gallery from the 2010 Green Corn Festival is expected to be released soon.
