By By MaryClaire Foster
The Poarch Creek Indians are gearing up for their 38th annual Pow Wow to be held on Thanksgiving Day and the day after.
The Pow Wow attracts thousands of people from around the state and even around the country and features Tribes from throughout the nation in authentic dress performing traditional dances.
Mandy Peebles, tribal administrative events coordinator, said the Pow Wow is something the Tribe always looks forward to holding.
Around 110 vendors sell beadwork, basketry, quilts, silverwork and other craft items.
Peebles said the amount of vendors is equal to that of previous years, with many new vendors scheduled to attend.
Along with a multitude of craft vendors, there are several food vendors. Barbecue and roasted corn are cooked over oak wood fires on open pit grills and area churches provide turkey and dressing dinners, ham plates and fried chicken plates. Other varieties of food are also available.
The Pow Wow festivities on Thanksgiving Day begin at 9:45 a.m. with the Oklahoma Creek Stomp Dancers performing.
At 10:45 a.m. the Poarch Creek Indians Pow Wow Club will perform different styles of dancing. This is the second year for the Pow Wow Club to perform and it is a much bigger group.
Following the Pow Wow Club performance, Mallory Young, the reigning senior princess, will be singing the National Anthem and Tribal Chairman Buford L. Rolin will welcome everyone. The Tribal youth will then give a presentation.
The Princess contest begins at noon with the grand entry following at 1 p.m. and again at 5 p.m. on Thursday and at noon on Friday. The grand entry showcases intertribal dancing and a dance competition. At 4 p.m. the Oklahoma Creek Stomp Dancers will perform again.
Tribal historic preservation officer Robert Thrower will be presenting cultural presentations Thursday from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. at the Poarch Consolidated School.
Friday’s mound activities will begin at 10 a.m. with the Oklahoma Creek Stomp Dancers and at 11 a.m. the Poarch Creek Indians Pow Wow Club will perform again. The dance arena activities begin at noon with the intertribal dance and dance competition. The Pow Wow concludes at 5 p.m. when prize money is awarded.
A pig chase and turkey shoot will be held on both days, as well as other activities for children.
There will be a stomp dance at Poarch’s Wellness &Activities Center Friday night after the Pow Wow is completed.
The stomp dance is social dancing and begins at 8 p.m. It is open to the public with no admission cost.
Admission for the 38th annual Poarch Band of Creek Indians’ Pow Wow is $5 for individuals ages 12 and above, $3 for children ages 6-11 and children under the age of 5 get in free. PCI Tribal members are admitted free with their Tribal IDs.