Native Dancers Take Over Camp Cabarrus, Honors Local Scout

Friday and Saturday, the Cabarrus PowWow Association, a local non-profit Native American Cultural Association, held their annual PowWow at Camp Cabarrus.  Over 100 dancers from all across NC, SC, GA, TN, FL, VA, and AZ were present at the camp, and hundreds of local families visited the camp to watch the dancers and learn about native culture.  Everyone had a wonderful time and the weather was incredible.  Many scouts and scouters visited the event, as well as many boys who had never been involved in scouting.  The 1st Place Winner in the Teepee Contest at the 2012 National PowWow was present with his teepee and hosted many boys seeking to learn more about historic plains indian culture.  A Navajo Veteran came from Arizona and sang with the Drum all weekend, and prayed the final dance prayer in Navajo.

During the PowWow, several friends of the PowWow who passed in the last year were honored.  In particular, the EMCEE of the PowWow honored his brother, a 76 year old scoutmaster from Indiana, who was died last year while on a camping trip with his troop.  Another young man, a past OA lodge chief and Eagle Scout and a former dancer at this PowWow, had died in the last year while on a military mission in San Diego area.  His brother presented his Military Casket Flag to the PowWow Committee as a memorial to his brother.

Sadly, it was within a few hours that it was discovered that Chris Overcash, an member of Troop 128 in Concord, had died during a boy scout hike earlier in the day.  Several Troop 128 members were present and participating in the PowWow, as well as members of Itibapishe Iti Hollo OA lodge (Chris was an Ordeal member), and the Pow-Wow Committee decided to hold a Memorial Song and Memorial Dance to honor Chris.  Over 200 dancers and visitors danced in memory of Chris.  Immediately prior to the evening dance session, the Head Veteran Dancer, lowered the Camp Cabarrus Flag during the Flag Song and raised the Casket Flag (presented earlier in the day) to half-staff in tribute to the fallen boy scout.  The flag remained lighted and flying throughout the night. 

As a final tribute, the flag that was flying during the Memorial Song and Memorial Dance were given to members of Troop 128 to present to Chris' family.