Ivory Richardson Jr. of Macon, North Carolina, belongs to the third largest Native American tribe in North Carolina, the Haliwa-Saponi (located in Halifax and Warren counties). He is originally from Hollister. He has been a nurse for 15 years and works as a clinical coordinator for the operating room at VCU Health Community Memorial Hospital. Here is Richardson’s story:

Tell us what you know about your ancestry.

"Some traditions and things passed down are seen at the powwows. Most tribes have them once a year to show their culture, wear regalia and dance. They are open to the public and can draw tens of thousands of people. The grand entry is when everyone in the tribe lines up in a certain order and brings the flags to post in the arena for the dances. Some competition powwows can draw people from across the nation, but you usually have to have a tribal card to compete. There are different dances: traditional, fancy, grass and jingle dress. The traditional dances have more of the natural earth tones and leather, while the fancy dances can have more colorful feathers. I was a grass dancer coming up. My wife is from the same tribe. We used to set up as a vendor and make dream catchers, sterling silver jewelry, head dresses and walking sticks."

Share something about your culture.

"A lot of people like the fry bread. It's made with flour, usually rolled into a ball, patted out flat and dropped in grease. Most people put powdered sugar on it or add honey and make it a sweet treat. They also can make an Indian taco. Buffalo burgers are also popular at events."

How has your background impacted your career?

"We have a lot of sick people in the Indian tribe. Growing up I lived with my grandma so I could take care of her. My first job was an EMT with the fire department. I just want to take care of people. A big value in our culture is that families take care of their own. There are a lot of caregivers in that tribe, whether they care for our people or just anyone."

If you are interested in learning more about the local tribes in the area, the 55th Annual Powwow is scheduled for April 14-16, 2023. Visit haliwa-saponi.org for details.