SAVE:Natick Praying Indian Pow Wow

The Natick Praying Indians are the surviving descendants of the indigenous people of this area. In the early 1600's, John Eliot taught and coverted these people to Christianity, hence their name.  I say surviving because in the winter of 1675-1676 about 500 Indians were held captive on Deer Island, without adequate food, or shelter and many died.
       For nearly 20 years the Natick Praying Indians have been able to have their annual Fall Pow Wow on the grounds of Lake Cochituate State Park, at no cost to them. This year, with very little notice, they were informed they will have to pay two state workers $40/hour in order to use the park for their Pow Wow. They had already paid the insurance required for this event, and can not raise any where near the estimated $4500 they will need to pay for the two men, and other  costs. 
      In my heart, I feel it is so wrong to take one more thing away from these people, that means so much to them. I believe we should be honoring their culture, and learning from it. They have always invited the public  to join them in sharing this celebration.  The community as a whole benefits from the Pow Wow.
   I'm afraid their isn't much time to raise this money. their Pow Wow is always the last weekend in September. This year, September 23-24.  These funds are needed by September 20th, or the Pow Wow will have to be cancelled.
     Your support will enable them to pay for the use of the park for the weekend.   It is a joyous celebration where all are welcome to share in listening to the drums and songs, and to participate in the dance or just watch. It brings together so many people who love the Pow Wow, and look forward to it every year.
        I can't express how much it means to me and how grateful I would be to present the money to Chief Caring Hands.  I will tell her the brothers, and sisters of all peoples have come together to help her enjoy her Pow Wow.
   Thank you!
Re: Response To Gofundme Initiative
I am Chief Caring Hands of the Natick Praying Indians and although I am not the originator of this go fund me campaign and was surprised to learn of it, it to proved to be a great blessing to our Tribe. We have powwow ceremonies at Natick for over 20 years and our two day Cochituate Lake powwow is offered free to the public. Natick and DCR have been very good to us in this regard all these years, on our powwow flyer is a statement of this appreciation. Now, for the first time to ceremony on our ancestral tribal land, we are asked to pay a rental fee whose cost and so little time to respond, caused us to consider canceling the powwow. Upon learning of our predicament, a member of our church took the initiative to create a save the powwow go fund me page.

Without an actual amount, an estimate was produced taking in consideration the rapid approach of the powwow, 5 blocks of time to include set up day, 2 days of event, our own private security and 2 nights of Park presence to secure the Vendors livelihood wares.

DCR has spoken to us at length on their issues surrounding the powwow. And so, Looking at the needs of a one day event for this year, DCR has offered to work with us and the reserving of next year's dates as we have always have. At present the go fund me account contains enough funds for this one day. We will miss our 2 day powwow but have wisely chosen maybe to hold a one day powwow on Saturday September 23, 2017 and any additional contributions might be applied to our annual powwow of next year. We are a tiny tribe and we give a free powwow. It would be best not to have to face this challenge next year. And while putting something in place, we may continue to celebrate our annual 2 day powwow that we love and so many people have come to love and become our friends. This would be an unexpected blessing that Butterfly Woman's go fund me has created.
It's my wish to meet each person who contributed and give them  a blessing at the powwow."