CHARLEMONT — A group of people with Indigenous ancestry hopes to bring back the powwow and revitalize the Indian Plaza in Charlemont as a hub for celebrating Native American culture.

It began with a dream. Theresa “Star” Stewart recounted having a dream about the late Harold Roberts, the former owner of the Indian Plaza Gift Shop and powwow grounds at 1475 Mohawk Trail (Route 2) who died in December 2023. Stewart said Roberts told her to bring the dormant grounds back to life.

“Harold came into my dreams and said, ‘I want you to get this land recognized as international tribal land and continue my legacy,’” said Stewart, who is of Algonquin heritage. “I’ve been working diligently trying to get this land for Native Americans as a historical site so we can all use the land.”

Roberts, and his father before him, held intertribal powwows on the property for decades. Open to descendants of all Native American tribes, the events featured drumming, singing, dancing, storytelling and the sharing of cultural traditions. While the grounds were once a bustling hotspot for powwows and other Indigenous gatherings, no events have been held there for years. Since Roberts’ death, the land itself is a bit in limbo, as the next owners, with consideration of Roberts’ next of kin, will be decided in probate court, according to Town Administrator Sarah Reynolds.

Stewart said she would like to get the land registered as a historic site, which would allow for access to grant funding and tribal assistance programs, such as the National Park Service’s Tribal Historic Preservation Program. She hopes to get help cleaning the property and readying it to host powwows once more.

The land is still very special, said Bill Maher, also known as “Lame Bull the Medicine Man.” Many Indigenous ancestors had their ashes spread on the property. Their descendants and other people with connections to the various tribes that have used the grounds want to see it remain in Native hands.

On Sunday, Stewart brought together a group of friends with Indigenous heritage for a brief ceremony to recognize the land and its connection to their ancestors.

“I want us to acknowledge the little part of our ancestors that lives in each of us. That part of our ancestor within us is a living thing, and like any other living thing, it wants to breathe, it wants to grow, it wants to be known and it wants to make connections,” said Joseph Bolton, a French-Canadian storyteller with Mi’kmaq ancestry. “That’s why we’re here, because our ancestors asked us. … It’s not gonna be an easy road, but we’re gonna resurrect this.”

Stewart said she has already spoken to a few tribes in the region, including representatives of the Nipmuc and Wampanoag nations, and both have agreed to join in intertribal powwows on the land in the event that it gets historical recognition. She hopes to see the tribes that are native to western Massachusetts make use of the property, but tribes from all over, including regions of eastern Massachusetts, New York, Canada and beyond, will also be welcome.

She said the land is already set up to host powwows, but could benefit from some cleaning, raking, landscaping and perhaps a fresh coat of paint for the buildings.

Stewart said she plans to hold a similar land recognition ceremony in the spring, by which time she hopes the land will be recognized as a historic site.

Reach Madison Schofield at 413-930-4579 or mschofield@recorder.com.