There are many versions of how the Chambers Farm Gathering started and I was not there in the beginning. The known facts are that it has been happening for 28 years and the property was originally owned by Mr. & Mrs. Chambers. Mrs. Chambers was originally from West Virginia and had Native ancestors. In years past she hosted another event called "West Virginia Days" where many local and nationally known Blue Grass and Country musicians would gather for a weekend of down home "pickin and singin". As far as the Native American Gathering or Pow Wow goes the most consistent "story" I've heard is this: Back in the late 70's in an area called Silver Springs was an attraction known as "Six Gun Territory" who employed many Native Americans as part of their shows. One family of entertainers was the Big Mountain family who are still in the entertainment business and have worked for Disney and toured Europe. Margurite Big Mountain was Head Lady at one of our recent gatherings. The Big Mountains and other Natives wanted a place where they could dance for themselves away from the public eye. After searching the area they finally "crossed paths" with Mrs. Chambers and began using her farm as a place to gather. Soon non-native people learned of this and began attending hoping to learn more about the Native American culture. Among this group were Boy Scouts eager to learn and quick to adopt Native style dance and clothing properly called Regalia. The Big Mountain family and others began teaching these people how to Drum, Sing and Dance but more than that they also taught them a way of life. How to respect "The Drum" which is often referred to as "The Heartbeat", the importance of the Dance Circle, the meaning and usage of prayer in everyday life and how to be a "human being" from the Native perspective. It did not take long for more and more people both Native and non-native to begin gathering at "The Farm" in order to socialize through dance. When the first vendors or traders started to set up and sell is unknown and when the general public began attending is yet another unknown factor. Mr. and Mrs. Chambers both crossed over and with their passing a time of uncertainty as to the fate of the gathering came to be. Their children were heirs to the property and even though they were regular attendees of the gatherings no one could be sure of the future. As fate would have it Mr. Michael Brill of Ohio happened to be present at a gathering soon after Mrs. Chambers death and learned that the property may soon be sold. Moved by Spirit, because Michael had no previous intent or desire to own property in Florida or to be part of running a gathering, he was able to purchase the land and set up a trust whereby the gatherings would continue far into the future. This then is a short version of the history of Chambers Farm as I know it. I am sure that there are others who know more and could add greater detail or who may dispute what I have written here. History is a tricky business even for those who witness it as it is being made, for the recording of history relies on one's perception and memory. For those of us who are not there we must rely on the memories and fallabilities of others and attempt to piece together the fragments of knowledge we gather.