By By Lisa Tindell
With the 39th annual Poarch Creek Indians Thanksgiving Pow Wow just a week away, organizers are busy preparing for thousands of visitors to the tribal grounds over the two-day event.
The annual event is set to begin Thanksgiving morning as the gates open at 9 a.m. The event will continue on Friday with grounds open from 9 a.m. until 5 p.m.
One highlight of the Indian reunion and celebration will be the crowning of the 2009 Poarch Creek Indians Tribal Princesses.
Amber Lisenby, community outreach coordinator for PCI, said the competition has gone through some changes making this year’s event more exciting.
Earning a chance to wear the coveted crown as princess isn’t the only benefit of being in the competition, Lisenby said.
Learning about their culture is also a key part of the preparation for the competition, Lisenby said.
The actual competition will be open to the public with a preliminary event of a talent show on Wednesday evening.
Tickets for the event are $2 each and are only available from the contestants.
Lisenby said the tickets will earn some lucky people more than attendance to the event.
The talent program will begin at 7 p.m. in the family services auditorium at the Tribal Center on Jack Springs Road.
The competition for the crown is open to ladies in age divisions including 8 to 11, 12 to 16 and 17 to 22.
The princess competition is presented by the Calvin McGhee Cultural Authority and will be held Thursday on the main mound beginning at noon.
Competing in the 8- to 11-year old category are Lexi Daughtry, Mallory Gibson, Cierra McGhee, Daya Nobles and Kiah Parker.
Competing in the 12- to 16-year old category are Breiah Adams and Hannah Gibson.
Competing in the 17- to 22-year old category are Connie Colbert, Cortney Morris, Tori Rodriguez and Kimberly Rolin.
Crowning of queens in each division will be held at the close of the program on Thursday, Lisenby said.
Outgoing princesses will also have their part in the final round just before the new princesses are crowned, Lisenby said.
Taking their final reign during the competition will be the 2008 Poarch Creek Indian Princesses. Outgoing princesses are Danielle Martin – senior princess; Deidre Smith – junior princess; and Kennedy McGhee – elementary princess.
To learn more about the annual princess competition or about the annual Powwow event, visit the PCI Web site at www.poarchcreekindians-nsn.gov, or contact the tribal offices at 368-9136.