A new group has formed for Bermudians wishing to embrace their Native American roots.

The St. David's Islanders and Native Community was created for Bermudians with heritage in any Native American nation or tribe.

The group formerly existed as a subcommittee of the St. David's Historical Society.

"A lot of our members are not necessarily from St. David's," said chairman Stephen Tucker. "Our members are from all over the Island."

Many Bermudians have Native American ancestry dating back to the late 1600s and 1700s. After various wars between New England Puritans and Native Americans, the surviving Native Americans, mainly women and children, were enslaved and sent away from the colony to avoid further uprisings.

In a previous article, American archeologist Dr. James McBride told The Royal Gazette that significant wars included the Pequot Wars (1636 -1637) and King Philip's War (1675 -1676). King Philip's War involved Native Americans from all over New England, including the Wampanoag.

After these wars ended Native Americans were actually sent all over the world, including Africa, Europe and the Caribbean.

"I know the colonists did not want to keep the captured Native Americans in the colonies because they were too close to home," said Dr. McBride. "In fact, the sale of the native people to Bermuda and elsewhere began the slave trade with Africans into the New England colony.

"They would sell the Native people and use the proceeds to import Africans. They didn't want to use the Native Americans as slaves, because if native communities were nearby they would possibly escape which is what they did during the Pequot War."

In Bermuda there was a labour shortage, and industries such as tobacco were just getting going. The Native Americans were used as house servants and agricultural labour.

Some St. David's Island oral history suggests that King Philip's son (a Wampanoag) may have been sent to Bermuda. Dr. McBride believed there may be some truth to that.

But there are many other tribes that some Bermudians identify with including Cherokee.

But Mr. Tucker said the St. David's Islanders and Native Community tried not to focus on DNA or tribes too much.

"Our motto is 'it's not about your tribe, it's about your heritage'," he said. "In terms of DNA you have to measure yourself against someone else. And there's an old saying, if you measure yourself against someone else you're going to come up short.

"People are welcome to do it individually, that's just not what our group is about. We all have many different genetic influences in our background."

A connection between Native Bermuda tribes in New England and Bermuda happened by coincidence, if you believe in coincidences. "My mother, Christine Lugo, and Stuart Hollis were in Connecticut," said Terlena Murphy, vice-chairman of the group.

"My mom and Stuart were walking along this road. They thought they were close to Foxwoods Casino which is owned by the Mashantucket Pequot Nation, but they were actually a long way away. They were walking for miles."

Mrs. Lugo and Mr. Hollis and another cousin, were in the area to learn more about their native American heritage. They had already done some genealogy research back in Bermuda.

"A man stopped to help them," said Ms Murphy. "His name was David Weeden, the son of Everett (Tall Oak) Weeden, a Wampanoag-Pequot historian. He gave them a ride, and later introduced them to his family and friends."

That simple car ride led to Ms Lugo and Mr. Hollis, and many other Bermudians, connecting with long forgotten cousins.

Now it is not uncommon to find Bermudians wandering around the area, and likewise members of the Pequot and Wampanoag nations in Bermuda.

To help forge the reconnection between the United States and Bermuda a bi-annual festival was created that includes native American and Bermudian dancing, arts and crafts, food and celebration.

The next Native Bermuda Pow Wow will be held this summer from June 20 to 21 at the St. David's Cricket Club Grounds.

This year promises to be extra special in honour of Bermuda's 400th anniversary.

Sadly, Mrs. Lugo passed away a few years ago, but her legacy lives on.

"I am really glad that my mother got to see the first Native Bermuda festival," said Ms Murphy. "For our side to connect it has been a really great thing."

She said at the festivals held every other year in St. David's, it is always interesting to see similarities between people of Native American heritage in Bermuda and people with Native American heritage from the United States.

"There are often similarities in looks and features, even in mannerisms and customs," said Ms Murphy. "That first festival held in 2002 was very emotional.

"At the beginning of our festival we do a libation ceremony"

This is to remember those who have died. A wreath is thrown into the ocean while others watch and pray.

"Someone videotaped it," said Ms Murphy. "She has it on film when they throw the wreaths into the ocean, there is a light that comes out. The beam of light went over our heads and out into the ocean."

Mr. Tucker said that for a grassroots movement they have received phenomenal recognition.

For more information about the Native Bermuda Pow Wow contact Ms Murphy at terlena_murphy@hotmail.com or sptucker@ibl.bm or telephone Mr. Tucker at 333-4670.