The drums resonated so deeply that it felt like the heart of Mother Earth was throbbing all around the field on Elm Street in Newport where a three-day powwow started Saturday.

Dancers representing a variety of tribes danced in a ceremonial circle, some in colorful hand-beaded regalia and others in T-shirts and shorts, to honor their ancestors, the Earth and military veterans during the sixth annual Newport powwow.

“I love to see the native culture that was almost lost come back,” event sponsor Edward Littlefield said Saturday. “The native people have a lot to show us. Without our past, our future is quite limited.”

Each day of the powwow begins with a grand entry where the American Indians and their counterparts from Canada present their colors and flags and pay respect to their ancestry.

A ceremonial fire was lit at the beginning of the powwow in a large teepee in a corner of the field, located behind Littlefield’s Welding. Norridgewock resident Brain Aubut, a Micmac known as “Dark Child,” was Saturday’s fire keeper.

“It’s lit when the powwow starts and is put out at the end,” he said. “If it goes out, the powwow stops.”

The state’s four Wabanaki tribes – the Penobscot Indian Nation, the Houlton Band of Maliseet, the Aroostook Band of Micmacs and the Passamaquoddy – all had representatives at the powwow, Littlefield said.

“Last year there were 28 different tribes represented,” he said. “There were people from as far away as Alaska, California and Florida. A good part of them came from Canada.”

Littlefield and his wife, Anna, have hosted a powwow on their Newport land every year since 1999.

The master of ceremonies was Big Cove, New Brunswick, resident Jimmy Augustine, a Micmac who spent much of the day educating crowds about the traditional ways of the many tribes.

“You’ll notice the dancers dance clockwise around the circle,” he said. “When they dance counterclockwise, they’re showing respect for their ancestors.”

The bright orange and red regalia of Junior Peter-Paul and his family of the Aroostook Band of Micmacs made them stand out in the crowd. And the Presque Isle man’s orange mirrored sunglasses matched his outfit to a tee.

His family and others sat around a huge drum drumming and singing throughout the event Saturday.

Souvenirs that are available from the various participating tribes through today include peace pipes, pelts, blankets, baskets, numerous styles of jewelry, bows and arrows, spears, blankets, wooden flutes, dream catchers, incense, beaded items and clothing.

Dwight “Dewey” Grant, who was born in Pleasant Point and now runs D&A Native American Crafts in Etna, was one vendor at the powwow Saturday selling handmade jewelry and baskets.

“My wife does the gem stoneware [and small beadwork], and I do the beaded necklaces,” he said. “My nephew, who is also Passamaquoddy, makes the baskets. We keep it as a family business.”

Powwows are a perfect way for participants to reconnect with family and friends, said Bucksport resident Debby Red Otter, who is half Passamaquoddy and half Assiniboine-Sioux of Montana.

“It reinforces our sense of community as well as our personal sense of spirit,” said Red Otter, who was dressed in a hand-beaded outfit decorated with a tree of life and a raven, her totem, or personal protector.