CHARLESTOWN — For visitors, the Narragansett Indian powwow is a chance to see some of the tribe’s culture and traditions. For tribal members, it is at once a homecoming and reunion.

“To be able to come back to the same spot … that our people have been gathering on since the 1700s” is special, said Wendi Starr-Brown, tribal historian.

Narragansetts and members of other New England tribes use the powwow as an opportunity to see the babies born throughout the year, offer condolences, catch up on tribal news or even meet a future spouse, she said.

“People can see what’s changed or stayed the same,” said Starr-Brown, an anthropologist from Washington, D.C., who hasn’t missed a Narragansett powwow in her 38 years.

This year’s festivities, beginning at 10 a.m. today and tomorrow and lasting until sundown, will mark the tribe’s 333rd recorded Annual August Meeting. The event, held the second weekend in August each year, draws Native Americans from across the country.

Held on tribal land in woods off Route 2 in Charlestown, the gathering celebrates the ripening of the corn — or the Green Corn Thanksgiving — and is one of the oldest of its kind. The powwow unfolds near 2 acre on which the Narragansett Indian Church sits and which the tribe has continuously owned.

Chief Sachem Matthew Thomas and other tribal leaders will lead the grand entry at 1 p.m. both days to pounding drums. Medicine Man Lloyd Wilcox will cleanse the sacred grounds tomorrow, followed by a peace pipe ceremony for representatives from all the tribes in attendance. Starr-Brown will also speak.

Social dances and drumming will take place both days. Children’s dance competitions will be held throughout the weekend, with men and women facing off for traditional and fancy dances tomorrow.

Six or seven drumming groups from across the country will play this year, Tribal Councilman Hiawatha Brown said.

Traditional foods such as succotash, quahog chowder, corn on the cob and jonnycakes will be for sale from noon until sundown. Arts and crafts booths will be on display.

The Narragansett Indian Church board welcomes anyone interested to attend nondenominational services at 9:30 and 11 a.m.

Thomas urged the public to attend. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children.

kmulvane@projo.com