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 From 12 to 20 July 2006, the
Virginia Indian Festival took place in Gravesend, the resting
place of Pocahontas. It was the first visit of an official
Virginia Indian delegation to England for more than 250
years.
On Saturday 15 July, the Virginia Indians performed a Pow-wow in
the Big Day Out, a community festival with music, dance and
cultural exhibits.
On Sunday 16 July there was a commemorative service at St
George's Church, Gravesend followed by the second day of the Big
Day Out.
On Monday 17 July at the National Symposium at University of
Kent, Canterbury the public were able to find out more about the
Virginia Indian history and culture.
The festival highlighted the history and culture of the Virginia
Indian Tribes and their place in modern American society.
As the burial site of Pocahontas, Gravesend was the ideal venue
for the festival which marked the start of a long term, productive
relationship between the Virginia Indian Tribes, the Borough of
Gravesham and the county of Kent.
It paves the way for a number of other special events taking
place throughout 2006 and 2007 as Kent and Virginia commemorate
America's 400th anniversary of the founding of the Jamestown
settlement in 1607. |