By By MELISSA BLANKENSHIP
Staff Writer
The 31st annual Thanksgiving Day Pow-Wow, hosted by the Poarch Band of Creek Indians, ended as yet another success on Friday, November 23.
The two-day event was packed with various tribal dancing, arts and crafts, Native American cultural presentations, adult and youth dance competitions and the much anticipated princess contest. Local community members, Creek Indians, various other tribal members and visitors from across the United States joined in Poarch for the celebration.
The celebration is a tradition for many and holds various sentiments for all involved.
Rainy weather did not dampen the spirits of the event. Dancers and competitors exhibited their skills and talents in two day's worth of tight competition.
The dancers compete for prizes ranging to the tune of $375. Princess competition hosted 12 contestants representing the Poarch Creek Indians. The winners were announced on Thursday. The 2001-2002 winners were: Gia Rodriquez, senior princess; Krystal Rolin, first alternate; Hillary Rolin, junior princess; Shelly White, first alternate; Tori Rodriquez, elementary princess; Kim Rolin, first alternate; Laura Sells, second alternate.
Rodriquez is in the 11th grade at ECHS. She is a former elementary princess.