By Haley Mitchell Godwin

For the first time, the vibrant cultural celebration and culturally enriching event will be held on the tribe’s own tribal grounds located at 2950 County Road 377 in Elba. 

The two-day event will run daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Grand entry ceremonies will kick off at 10:30 a.m. on both days in which dancers will be led by an elder into the main arena and all tribes present will be represented, joining together in an opening dance. 

For  $1.00 per person, visitors will gain access to a wealth of activities, displays, and experiences that celebrate the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe’s history and culture. The event will feature a diverse range of attractions, ensuring there’s something for everyone to enjoy.

Attendees can look forward to a wide array of culinary delights available for purchase, including hamburgers, hotdogs, chips, boiled peanuts, roasted corn, chicken fingers, barbecue, fry bread (a Native American delicacy), fresh lemonade, hot chocolate, soft drinks and more.

The event will feature demonstrations on traditional Native American practices such as flint knapping, hide tanning, primitive pottery making, stick weaving, primitive cooking, beading, basket weaving, herb usage, soap making, candle making and more. For the younger visitors, a dedicated kids’ corner will offer various activities, including simple beading and an “archeological dig.”

Visitors will also have the opportunity to explore informative booths that shed light on the Creek language and other important tribal topics. Vendors will be present, selling handmade items such as native ribbon skirts, pottery, leather purses, candles, beaded items and more, providing a chance to take home a piece of Native American craftsmanship.

The pow wow will be a gathering of diverse tribal communities, with members from various tribes, including Cherokee citizens and an Alaskan native, offering storytelling and traditional dances. A candy dance, open to both citizens and non-citizen children, promises to be a delight for the younger attendees.

Jimmy Bryan, a Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama citizen, emphasized the significance of hosting this pow wow on the tribe’s own grounds.

“It has been very important, for many reasons, to me and other tribal members that we begin holding the yearly pow wow celebration on our actual tribal grounds,” Bryan said. “We want to have as many opportunities as possible to be involved with the local communities while being interactive representatives of the Lower Creek Tribe of Alabama.”

Bryan further expressed the tribe’s gratitude for the opportunity to educate others on their ancestry and strengthen their connection with the local community.

“We look forward to continuing this annual event on our tribal grounds and to continuing offering resources to the friends and neighbors of the tribe. We invite everyone to come out and enjoy what will be a fun, educational and entertaining event.”

For an unforgettable experience that combines culture, education and entertainment, mark your calendars for the Ma-Chis Lower Creek Indian Tribe of Alabama’s annual pow wow this Friday and Saturday. This unique celebration promises to be a true cultural treasure for all attendees.