By By BRIAN BLACKLEY
Publisher
The Poarch Creek Indians will hold their 31st annual Thanksgiving Pow Wow this week, once again celebrating the community's rich heritage.
Featuring Indian delicacies including roasted corn, Indian tacos and other specialty foods, the Pow Wow is a celebration of Native American life, featuring native dance exhibitions, a dance competition and a craft show.
The two-day event cranks up Thursday morning at 9 a.m. in the Poarch community when the gates open. At 10 a.m., the Oklahoma Creek Stomp Dancers will demonstrate the native dance of the Muskogee (Creek) Indians and practiced by other tribes in Oklahoma and Poarch Creek.
At 10:45, the Philadelphia Choctaw Tri-Community Dancers will perform and at 11:15, the Alabama Coushatta New Blood Dancers will demonstrate their style and technique.
At noon, opening ceremonies will be held featuring a welcome by Eddie Tullis, tribal chairman. Other opening festivities will be held including an exhibition dance by Daniel Tramper, Native American Hoop Dancing Champion.
Following at 2:30, the grand entry of the first round of intertribal dance competition will begin.
Friday, the gates again open at 9 a.m. and the Oklahoma Creek Stomp Dancers will again perform.
Dance competition will resume at 10 a.m. and at 12:45, Tramper will perform a hoop dancing exhibition.
At 1 p.m., the Alabama Coushatta New Blood Dancers will again perform and at 1:30, the Philadelphia Choctaw Tri-Community Dancers will again be the centers of attention.
From 2 p.m. until, the dance competition will resume.
Admission is $5 per person. Admission is free for children 6 and under.