Perry Ground spent Sunday afternoon telling stories at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.

It was his way of educating people about his Native American culture — which is alive and well in Western Pennsylvania and across the country, he said.

“People think we went away,” said Ground, of the Onondaga Turtle Clan from Rochester, N.Y. “I want everyone to know that we are vibrant, dynamic and thriving.”

The Haudenosaunee storytelling was part of Sunday Fun Day at the Greensburg museum, which doubled as a way to welcome and educate people, said Elle Marshall, public programs and community engagement manager.

“We always want to celebrate different cultures,” she said.

Tawnya Panizzi | TribLive The White Pine Dancers perform at the Westmoreland Museum of American Art for Sunday Fun Day.  

Festivities included hands-on heritage activities such as corn husk doll crafting, pony bead bracelets and medallion coloring. Food trucks filled the campus while people milled between presentations.

Dressed in full regalia that included deer-skin fringed leggings, a decorative wool sash and deer bone choker, Ground entertained the crowds with stories about how stars were developed from “glowing flowers” and how Native Americans discovered the thick sweet sap of maple trees — and also perfected a way to cook it on open flames, making the syrup we know today.

“There are 576 different federally recognized tribes across America,” Ground said. “We didn’t always have a way to record history so we told stories with each other.”

Twelve-year-old Jaxon McDonald of Greensburg was enamored with Ground’s headdress, which was made from turkey and eagle feathers.

“We learn about Native Americans at school but it was cool to see this in person,” Jaxon said.

Also performing at the museum were the White Pine Dancers, an Iroquois-based dance group that specializes in Earth songs.

Their interpretive moves celebrated the robin, the first bird seen each spring. Dancers stomped their feet to mimic how the birds command worms from the soil.

Members of the audience were encouraged to join in the rhythmic dances that circled the room.

Tawnya Panizzi | TribLive Josh Young (front left) joins in with the White Pine Dancers Sunday at The Westmoreland Museum of American Art.  

Josh Young and Melanie Williams of South Park gave it a try, with Williams saying it was part of her studies as a student at Duquesne University.

“I’m in a counseling program and I’m interested in how the culture relates to therapy,” she said.

Marti Haykin of Greensburg is a frequent visitor to the museum and said the variety of exhibits and programs is unmatched. She often carries a sketchbook to test her skills and copy pieces on display.

“I love that they celebrate different traditions,” Haykin said. “We are so lucky to have this resource.”

For Ground, who performs across the globe, the personal interactions with the crowd are meaningful. They are vital to ensure that people are accurately educated on Native American culture, he said.

“By doing it in a fun and entertaining way, we hope people want to learn more about our culture that is still very present in the 21st century,” he said. “It shows them a different side that what they might be accustomed to hearing.”

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