Corning Community College’s Activities Programming Committee will host the Piscataway Indian Nation singers and dancers on Wednesday, November 4, 2009, noon-1 p.m. in the Triangle Lounge, Commons Building, Spencer Hill campus. Famous for their internationally-recognized living history program, the Piscataway Indian Nation singers and dancers welcome the opportunity to educate and entertain audiences who want to learn more about native American history, culture and contemporary issues. Participants will leave the performance tapping their feet to the beat of the drums and feeling a sense of joy.
Mark Tayac, speaker for the Piscataway Nation singers and dancers, is the son of the 28th hereditary chief of the Piscataway Nation. He is a direct descendant of Turkey Tayac (1895 – 1978) who was a Piscataway Indian leader and herbal doctor. He was born in Charles County, Maryland, with the Christian name Philip Sheridan Proctor. Turkey Tayac is said to have been the last elder to preserve the wisdom of Piscataway culture. He was also a well-known healer, and a root and herb doctor. Fortunately, before he gave up the ghost he taught the young Piscataway people the knowledge of those who came before him, as they did too. The circle has not been broken. Today the Piscataway leader is Chief Billy Red Wing Tayac, the father of Mark Tayac.
The Tayac Territory Singers and Dancers, founded by Mark Tayac, is a nationally known native cultural group that has performed at the Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, many colleges and universities, government agencies, and many schools. The group has also performed with many children’s groups and has received numerous awards from school districts. “No matter what ethnic background you come from, what section of the world you come from, what religion you believe in, whether you are an infant or an elder, we’re all members of that human family,” Tayac says. “We all have the same heart.”
This program is one of the most colorful, artful and educational programs in the country. Join this group of performers who have made special appearances on the History and Discovery Channels and are regularly seen at the Smithsonian Museum of the American Indian.
This event is free and open to the general public. For more information, please contact Nancy Agan at (607) 962-9507.
