By Carla Zanoni
DNAinfo Reporter/Producer
INWOOD — Thousands of people are expected to flock to Inwood Hill Park this weekend to celebrate Native American heritage.
Drums Along the Hudson, a traditional-style Pow Wow, was first started in 2002 as a way to commemorate the Lenape people who first inhabited the park area, which was then known as "Shorakapok," meaning "edge of the water."
The event will feature a White tree planting, which symbolizes the Iroquois symbol of peace, a shad fish tasting, musical performances, and drummers and dancers from the Native American Education Initiative.
The event has drawn as many as 10,000 attendees in past years.
Kicking off the event on Sunday will be a community processional and sacred dedication ceremony for the Indian Road Playground, which was recently reconstructed and designed to reflect the neighborhood’s Native American heritage.
Tom Porter, a spiritual leader of the Mohawk Community of Kanatsiohareke, will lead a community processional and sacred dedication ceremony for the playground at 10:45 a.m.
Attendees are invited to bring their drums to participate in a procession along Indian Road to the playground.
Drums Along the Hudson will take place at Inwood Hill Park, 218th Street and Indian Road, between 10:45 a.m. and 6 p.m., rain or shine.
