"Native Dancers Draw Crowds"

OHSWEKEN - Above the carnival din of midway rides and excited children, a hypnotic drum-beat drew hundreds of spectators to attention of dancers and singers taking part in a powwow.

Standing off to one side, Norman Largo was an eyecatcher despite the crowd.

Eagle feathers crowned his head, draped from each shoulder, and his ceremonial dress was a vibrant wonder of bead work and color.

Largo, a member of the Navaho nation, travelled from New Mexico to attend this and several other summer powwows.

He's been on the road for three months, taking every opportunity to celebrate his culture.

Each intricate aspect of his outfit is symbolic, each design recounts part of his people's historical journey, Largo said.

He explained the significance of his 96-year-old headdress.

"It belonged to my grandparents. Old people used to wear it to show they weren't afraid to die."

Largo said the head-dress was given to him in recognition of his eight-year service in the U.S. Marine Corps.

He spent four years in Vietnam fighting one of America's bloodiest wars.