Lido Beach Residents Attend Setalcott Nation Corn Festival Powwow in Suffolk County
On July 14, children and young adults from the Children’s Residential Program took a road trip out to East Setauket to witness the Setacott Nation Festival Powwow. The festival was a celebration of history, culture and the honoring of elders.
At the powwow, everyone found a space to sit under the shade of trees, listening to the drums by the dance arena in the distance. Some of the kids decided to explore, look at items sold by the vendors, including jewelry, backpacks, musical instruments, and dolls, and learn more about the experience.
Brandon Lyons, Children’s Residential Program Recreation Coordinator, organized the trip. He is passionate about creating a wide range of activities, including those with cultural and historical elements for the children to experience. Last month, the children took part in the Fourth Annual Elmont Juneteenth Celebration Festival on June 15.
“I just want them to be exposed to as much of the world as they can,” Brandon said, noting that the kids had fun at the event and how many questions they asked.
Brandon discovered the Setalcott Nation Corn Festival Powwow while searching for Powwows taking place on Long Island. While this Powwow was a long journey from home, he believed the Three Village area, which consists of the incorporated villages of Old Field and Poquott and the hamlets of the Setaukets and Stony Brook, would provide the best elements for the children to learn about Native American culture and history. 
Although the group couldn’t stay for the entire Powwow, their presence was warmly acknowledged by MC Lonnie Harrington, who gave a special shoutout to Brookville Center for Children’s Services.
Helen Morningstar Sells, Chair of the Setalcott Native American Council, expressed her appreciation for the visit. “I feel that anything we can share with the residents can give inspiration of the things they can do,” Helen said and added that she believed the children’s attendance was a good opportunity to learn about the history of Indigenous people on and beyond Long Island.
Native people have an over 10,000-year history in the Three Village area, which is today considered to be a part of the Town of Brookhaven. And, since the 19th century, a tight-knit community of Native and African American people have lived in Stony Brook and Setauket, carrying with them a strong, well-documented history.
“Our history is so strong in that Three Village area, and some of us, the relatives and the descendants, still live in the community,” Helen said. “I just feel that it’s a good thing to let people know that we are there and that we do take pride in the history.”
The children and staff hope to be back again next year!