Ceremony weds couple, traditions

Two marry under an oak at Withlacoochee River Park in a ceremony full of Seminole traditions.

By MICHELLE JONES

© St. Petersburg Times, published May 15, 2000

[Times photo: Dan McDuffie] Jamee Mitchell, 10, of Orlando waits for the start of the grandy entry at the Ninth Annual Mother's Day Native American Powwow on Sunday.

DADE CITY -- Sindy Doctor said she was two hours late for her wedding because she and her fiance, Randy Johnson, were getting advice from her 100-year-old grandmother, Annie Jimmie.

"She told us to never go to sleep mad," Doctor said after the wedding Saturday. "Always talk things through, always say I'm sorry and I love you to one another." Doctor called the advice "good medicine."

The wedding, held at the Ninth Annual Mother's Day Native American Powwow at the Withlacoochee River Park in Dade City, was a mix of Seminole, metaphysical and Christian traditions.

Ken Keller officiated and played a 12-string guitar with his group, Red Hawk.

Joseph Zampach (known as Joseph Z) played his flute while Ami Thundercloud sang a traditional wedding song called Wi Na De Ya Ho, which translated means The Morning Song.

"We call our music traditions, because none of us are full-blooded Native American," said Thundercloud. "It is an honor to sing the spirit into such a special day."

The wedding was scheduled for 4 p.m. in the Circle of Learning next to the Creek Village in the park.

More than 200 people gathered around the white bow-covered archway, sitting on benches, lawn chairs and even the leaf-covered ground. People who attended the powwow were invited to attend. They came dressed in shorts and halters, jeans and shirts or Native American garb.

By 5 p.m., half of the group had wandered away even through Red Hawk continued to play music for their entertainment. At 5:30 p.m., there were just friends, family members and a few diehard spectators remaining.

"Anyone here want to get married?" asked Tom Savino, a member of Red Hawk, of no one in particular.

At 5:50 p.m., Savino doubted the wedding would take place.

Then the white limousine arrived with the wedding party.

The groom wore a red shirt with a patchwork design and black trousers. The bride wore a long white gown with a patchwork design on the skirt.

At 6 p.m. the wedding procession began the short walk to the archway, under the shade of moss-covered oak trees.

Spectators returned to view the ceremony.

As the wedding party stood in front of Keller, they inhaled the smoke from sage incense and waved the incense over their heads. Before the ceremony, Cindy Middleton, the matron of honor, explained that the sage was to bring harmony and holiness to the circle.

The ceremony continued with other traditional practices. After drinking from a two-spouted vase, Keller used a piece of leather to tie the bride and groom's wrists together, making two loops. When they pulled their wrists, the two loops became one loop.

"This represents love and the binding of two people together," Keller said.

After the groom's mother, Bernice Johnson, sang The Lord's Prayer, the couple performed a tobacco offering ritual to the four winds, to the sky and to the earth. The ritual ended with the remaining tobacco being put in a medicine bag to be saved for the smoking of their first pipe together.

"The medicine bundle belongs with your pipe and other things you hold dear to you," Keller said.

He sang All My Relations before ending the ceremony with a prayer.

"When people are laughing, your Creator is smiling down on them," Keller said as he prayed over the couple.

A reception with a three-tiered wedding cake, punch and finger foods was held under a tent. Everyone who attended the wedding was invited.

In addition to the wedding, the weekend powwow included American Indian activities such as dance demonstrations, arts and crafts, storytelling and children's games, as well as educational tours, food and displays.

-- Michelle Jones covers central Pasco community news. She can be reached at (813) 226-3459. Her e-mail address is jones@sptimes.com.

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