Eleven years ago, Plant City resident Dock Green Silverhawk organized the first Silverhawk Native American Flute Gathering to share his Native-American heritage and love of its music.
This year’s event will take place Oct. 19 and 20, at Withlacoochee River Park, in Dade City.
“It’s a very laid-back and easy-going type of event,” Silverhawk said. “I’ve got everything now. It has blossomed over the years into what it is now.”
Since the event’s humble beginnings in the back yard of Silverhawk’s Plant City home, the event has grown to include flute circles from throughout the state. The annual gathering attracts about 1,000 people and features a variety of entertainment, crafts, food and raffles.
“I don’t make a dime off it,” Silverhawk said. “I just want to share my culture.”
A childhood premonition eventually led Silverhawk to pick up the Native-American flute decades later.
He was playing in the South Georgia woods one summer, fishing around a crystal clear sinkhole pond. As Silverhawk was walking back to his grandparents, he saw a young deer with its mother. He crouched down low by some bushes.
Then, he saw a massive hawk approaching the deer. When he stood up, everything went white. He instantly knew something bad was going to happen in his life — but also that he would be able to help people because of it.
Silverhawk lived a healthy life until his 50s, when he developed a dangerous heart condition. He spent weeks in hospitals undergoing surgeries. At one point, he was only given 48 hours to live.
But he survived.
During recovery, his wife suggested he get in touch with his Native-American roots. She took him to a powwow. That’s when he heard the soothing tunes of a flute.
“I became obsessed,” Silverhawk said.
He had played clarinet and saxophone in school and took to the flute easily. Silverhawk also performed on the saxophone for singers such as Curtis Lee and Dee Dee Sharp. But, the flute also had a therapeutic effect, and soon, he was volunteering to play for patients at Tampa General Hospital. He later became a chaplain — a post he traces back to that childhood premonition so many years ago. He played for everyone but especially loved playing for heart patients.
“Having been there, I knew what they were going through,” Silverhawk said.
Since then, Silverhawk has remained active in involving the community with Native-American culture. He has started a Native-American church, which meets twice monthly, at Thonotosassa United Methodist Church’s fellowship hall. The service includes smudging, praying, dancing and even tobacco smoking.
“It’s the Native-American way to carry out the ceremony,” Silverhawk said.
Silverhawk also runs a flute circle, Central Florida Flute Circle, which meets Tuesdays, at Bruton Memorial Library.
Silverhawk is Cherokee, Creek and Scottish. He spent many summers in south Georgia with his grandparents and cousin, playing in a wooded area called Devil’s Hopper. His grandmother was full Creek. She made traditional medicines but also tried to assimilate into American culture by calling herself “Black Dutch.”
Silverhawk didn’t pay much attention to his ancestry, until his health problems began to surface. Now, he is proud of his roots.
“The flute world has really grown,” Silverhawk said. “I never imagined it could grow this much. I’m happy to be a part of it.”
Contact Amber Jurgensen at ajurgensen@plantcityobserver.com.
SILVERHAWK NATIVE AMERICAN FLUTE GATHERING
WHEN: Oct. 19 to 20
WHERE: Withlacoochee River Park 12449 Withlacoochee Blvd., Dade City.
COST: Free; park charges $5 for parking
WEBSITE: silverhawkflute gathering.com
CONTACT: Dock Green Silverhawk, slvhawk@aol.com
CULTURAL EXCHANGE
• Central Florida Flute Circle meets at 6:30 p.m., the first Tuesday of the month, at Bruton Memorial Library, 302 W. McLendon St.
• Silverhawk’s Native-American church meets at 6:30 p.m., the second and fourth Sundays of the month, at Thonotosassa Untied Methodist Church, 11905 Fort King Highway, Thonotosassa.