Trae Trott isn’t shying away from his family’s native history — he’s embracing it.

The 21-year-old took it upon himself to learn how to sing and play the Pow Wow drum a couple of years ago. This weekend he’ll be showing off his skills at the St David’s Islanders and Native Community’s Bermuda Pow Wow.

The two-day event is held to celebrate the Island’s Native American roots and culture.

Mr Trott said he was thrilled to be able to take part. “I feel a sense of pride when I play,” he said. “Bermuda is a very diverse country — the average person is mixed with something — and to know where you come from and get to tap into those roots should instil some bit of pride in all of us.”

Mr Trott said he was always taught about his family’s Pequot roots as a child. However it wasn’t until he got older that he started to grasp what indigenous culture was all about.

“Growing up as a kid I had always been around native culture,” Mr Trott explained. “My grandfather, Ivan Trott Sr, would tell me ‘This is where I come from. This is in your blood’.

“Still I never really took heed to it. It wasn’t until I went to my first Pow Wow when I was around seven or eight years old that I got to see it and take in the action for myself. The atmosphere is one that completely captivates you.

“Imagine there are a couple of hundred individuals decked out in full regalia dancing and singing. There are so many intricacies that were put into each outfit, the colours and vibrancy of the materials used, it just takes your body and grips you. The music and power of the songs is also very moving.”

His interest in native culture only increased when he went off to study at Trent University in Peterborough, Ontario, in Canada.

He learnt there was a strong native community on campus and found out about the programmes, classes and events on offer in his area.

The aspiring optometrist also got involved with the Trent University Native Association — helping the group organise its annual Pow Wow in late March or early April.

“When I went to school and was out on my own that’s when I really dove into the culture and immersed myself in it,” he said. “I not only attended as many Pow Wows as I could, but also took the initiative to learn the culture and history.

“I started singing around two years ago and it takes some time to master it. The more you sing, the better you get at it.

“It’s not like contemporary music. Nothing is written down, everything is oral. You’ll find that with not only in the songs, but with the oral history of the native indigenous culture. They memorise everything.”

He said he became fascinated with the “whole way of life” of the natives and began to understand how and why certain things were done.

“I tried to slowly apply the little titbits that I learnt to my life,” Mr Trott said. “It changes your mentality and provides you with a good sense of awareness of the people and the culture. Then you compare that to how the rest of the world view indigenous people, which can be quite different from the reality.”

Mr Trott said he’s on a mission to get his university to have compulsory indigenous study courses for first-year students.

He also wants more people to experience the Pow Wow in St David’s for themselves.

“It’s a family fun day and showcases a lot of different aspects of the culture,” he said.

“Not a lot of people are aware of what goes on at the Pow Wow and there is a lack of education about native culture here. But with this event you can not only come out, spend time with family and friends and make new friends, but at the same time gain a sense of knowledge and understanding.”

The event will take place at the St David’s Cricket Club Grounds from 1pm until 6pm on Saturday; 2pm until 7pm on Sunday. Admission is $8 for adults and $4 for children.

On offer will also be a special Libation & Dedication Ceremony, traditional foods, crafts and artworks. Local and overseas Native American singers, dancers and drummers will perform, as well Mr Trott’s father, Irwin Trott’s Warwick Gombeys.