Louis Campbell: The Gathering

Could a small-town U.S.A. with mostly white population be open to supporting and participating in Native American Culture? Clarke County (population 14,034) is more than 91% Caucasian/white and known for its civil war plantations, battles and relics; vineyards, farming and orchards; but not well known for its rich Native American history. Despite the Indian Removals of the 1800’s, eugenics of Dr. Walter Plecker that lasted until 1946, 1924 Racial Integrity Act forcing Virginia Indians to choose White or Colored and absence of federal recognition, 11 Native Tribes still live and thrive in Virginia along with countless other indigenous individuals from across the Americas who call Virginia and Clarke County home. Bringing The Gathering relied on community to bring it to existence. The two partnering organizations with an eight-member elders council, with no funds, set out to enlist hundreds of volunteers and bring back traditional indigenous harvest ceremonies with invitation for all to participate and catch the spirit of The Gathering.

Led by Executive Director and Lumbee Indian René Locklear White (Feather) president of the Sanctuary on the Trail™ and vice president of the Virginia Gourd Society, the team had only seven months to plan The Gathering. Janice Kiehl president of the Virginia Lovers Gourd Society led the gourd festival portion. The provocative award winning photo of Lumbee and Blackfoot Indian Louis Campbell (on the cover of OMTimes Magazine by PJ Thorn Photography |Peter Thornton captivated readers throughout the region and hung in store-front windows across town and online. Close to 50 dancers in regalia showed up. For every one dancer in regalia there were 100 guests, bringing light to an amazing hunger for this culture and way of life. “My goal is to spread as much truth and knowledge about Native American Culture as I can, and to keep our traditions alive through our children,” said Louis Campbell indigenous dancer who works with Native American Lifelines that provides health and community outreach services in Baltimore and throughout the Mid-Atlantic to urban Indians.

About 2,500 Native Americans live in Baltimore, according to 2010 data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Louis Campbell sees himself as one of the many keepers of the treasures – “our children” and next seven generations.