Uhwachi-Reh Indigenous Arts

“I dance for my ancestors and the people who can no longer
dance; for my family and relatives; because I love it and to keep the culture alive.” 

- Louis Campbell, Lumbee Tribe

 

Louis Campbell

Uhwachi-Reh is a Baltimore-based Native American dance and cultural arts troupe led by Louis Campbell. The troupe’s name, Uhwachi-Reh, is a Tuscarora word that means "Extended Family." The group connects to the history of Native Americans—mostly from North Carolina's Lumbee and Haliwa-Saponi tribes—who moved to Baltimore after the Great Depression to work in local factories. 

Members from those and other tribes dance at numerous Pow Wow gatherings and share Native American history, traditional songs and dances at museums, festivals, and community events. Baltimore resident and group leader Louis Campbell is Lumbee. He creates ceremonial regalia and views traditional dancing as a form of "prayer in motion." The troupe performs traditional war dances and social dances in full ceremonial regalia, accompanied by live drumming and singing. The performers for festival will include Denmi Whiteman ( Lakota) Angela Miracle Gladue (Cree) Louis Campbell (Lumbee) and Keith Colston ( Lumbee - Tuscarora) The group has performed at community heritage celebrations as well as the Baltimore Museum of Art, the Maryland Folklife Festival and The Kennedy Center.