The island’s ties to Native American culture were recognised during two days of celebration in St David’s at the weekend.

The biannual powwow sought to honour links with Indigenous tribes based on the US East Coast.

This year's powwow saw the biggest contingent with more than 75 invited international guests.

Terlena Murphy, the chairman of the St David’s Islanders and Native Community, said that the event had cemented links with Bermudian and US East Coast peoples who shared the same heritage.

Ms Murphy said: “It was an excellent event — probably one of the best events that we’ve ever held.

“We made a connection with the Pequot people and they made a connection with us. We both know that we don’t know everything, that we learn from each other and that makes our communities stronger.

“While we learn about ourselves, we also learn about others. That’s what this weekend taught us.”

The visiting tribes that participated in the powwow this year were the Mashantucket Pequot Tribe, the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe and representatives of The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians based in Western South Carolina, with host drummers from the Mashpee Wampanoag and Wicozani (Pequot) and special performances by The Warwick Gombeys.

Dominique Williams, the secretary of the St David's Islanders and Native Community, said: “Many of our committee members find themselves descendants of these tribes through years of colonialism.

“We hold a libation ceremony on the first day of our powwow every year to commemorate our ancestors, those who have come before us. We learnt this way of ceremony from Everett G 'Tall Oak’ Weeden junior. He was a descendant of the Mashantucket Pequot, Narragansett and Wampanoag tribes, and helped our committee to reconnect with a part of us that was not lost, but needed to be reawakened.

“The St David's Islanders and Native Community, with help of these tribes, continue our cultural traditions through ways of dance, song and drumming.

“We wish for our powwows to not only grow but for Bermuda as a whole to learn not only St David's cultural heritage but a part of Bermuda's heritage that is easily forgotten.”

The Wampanoag Nation Singers and Dancers gave interactive performances representing the Aquinnah, Mashpee and Herring Pond communities.

Ms Murphy said: “The powwow is more than just a cultural event; it is a living declaration of identity and resilience.

She added that for more than 350 years, Bermuda had maintained ties with native communities across the Atlantic and the northern US states.

Ms Murphy said: “The legacy of ancestors who were brought to Bermuda during the 17th century endures through oral history, cultural practices and family lineage.

“The powwow offers a welcoming space for education, reflection and cross-cultural understanding. It is a unique opportunity to learn about traditional customs, ancestral connections and the often-overlooked history of Indigenous enslavement in Bermuda.

“These histories are inseparable from our island’s past and continue to shape its present.”

The next powwow will be held in 2027.

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