Daleville to host sixth annual Native American Powwow

The event is free and will run from Nov. 9-11. Gates open every day at 9 a.m., and will close at about 5 p.m.

“We want people to know this Powwow is an educational event, it’s an informational event and it’s a fun event,” Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kay Kirkland said. “It has something for everybody if they come. ”

The event, which celebrates Native American culture, will also honor those in the armed forces.

A special ceremony will take place at 11 a.m. Saturday, honoring veterans and active-duty military.

All area veterans, active-duty military, law enforcement officials, firefighters and rescue personnel are encouraged to attend.

Guest speakers for the ceremony are retired Col. Bob Cooper, U.S. Army pilot and past commander of Enterprise VFW Post 6683, and Lt. Col. Demetrios Nicholson, commander of the 1sr Battalion, 223rd Aviation Regiment.

The Powwow will kick off Friday morning at 9 with Children’s Day.

Kirkland said all area schools are invited to bring their students.

“(Students can) enjoy learning more about Native American customs, exploring the on-site teepees, hearing the traditional beats and songs of the culture by the Bird Chopper (Family) Drum group, seeing the meaningful movements of colorfully-dressed dancers and hearing revealing stories of days gone by,” Kirkland said in a release.

Pony rides and face painting will also be available for kids to enjoy.

Every day there will be primitive displays and demonstrations including flint knapping, hide tanning, arrowheads, moccasins, jewelry, ceramics, flutes and painted gourds.

“The crafters that come to the Powwow are unique,” Kirkland said. “Their (arts and crafts) are skilled in a way that is not common. The crafts that’ll be at this (event) are not the kind of crafts that you’re going to see at a regular crafts exhibit or craft show.”

Flint knapper T.J. Moore and trapper Steve Hammond will be giving demonstrations throughout the day.

Flint knapping is a technique Indians use to shape stone and flint into tools or weapons. Trapping and hide tanning is a process in which ancient civilizations would catch animals, remove the flesh and fat and turn the skin into leather.

Moore, who was taught by Native American Royce Yeomans, provides demonstrations to Boy Scouts, youth groups and military personnel.

“If you were in a survival situation and you needed a weapon or you needed a cutting tool, you can turn the right piece of flint with just a few blows into whatever you need at that moment,” Moore said.

Moore can sit and teach you how to beat stones together until they are chipped away into the perfect arrowhead, Kirkland said.

Hammond will also be on site teaching audiences the history and process of trapping and hide tanning.

“The tradition, whether it’s trapping or making baskets, needs to be carried on and not forgotten,” he said. “I would strongly suggest everybody come out, enjoy it and learn from it.”

The Powwow Committee and Chamber of Commerce would love to see this event become a signature event in the community, Kirkland said.

“If we can make this Powwow grow, the more impact it will have on our economy because the more people will come in,” she said. “We just want people to come out and just try to see for themselves what it’s all about.”

The committee will have a drawing at the Powwow for a one-week stay to the Landmark Resort in Panama City. For more information contact the Daleville Chamber of Commerce at 334-598-6331.