By Sarrah Peters
News Editor
The 2nd Annual Noccalula Falls Pow Wow will take place tomorrow on Saturday, September 5 and Sunday, September 6 at Noccalula Falls from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Colors will be posted at noon.
Admission is $5 for an adult, $10 for a family, $2 for seniors 65 or older and $2 for children age 6 through 14.
The admission fee will benefit the Turtle Island Native American Association, a non-profit organization that funds multiple Pow Wows across Alabama and Tennessee.
Vendors come to sell their handmade jewelry, dream catchers, pottery, wall hangings and other Native American souvenirs. Specialty crafts and supplies will be sold and demonstrated.
“There is a wide range of beautiful things available,” said Lowry Hesse, the event’s organizer.
The pow wow organizers are determined to bring authenticity to the event.
“We try to keep it as natural as we can,” said Hesse.
Flint knapping demonstrations and products will also be available. Joe Collins, a local flint knapper, has been practicing the art of making stone art and tools for 13 years. He is a member of the Cherokee tribe.
“You start with a larger stone, and work it down into what you are trying to make,” Collins said last year, holding up a nearly complete stone cross.
Collins is also one of many that will demonstrate archery.
Ramsey King, from the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians, is expected back this year to demonstrate basket weaving. The finished products will be sold at his booth.
Entertainment will be provided at the Pow Wow with traditional dancing, drumming, flute-playing and storytelling.
One such dancer last year was Eva Bryant of the Ani-Yun-Wiya Nation. She is a jingle dress dancer. Eva was chosen to be a jingle dress dancer as a baby, when an elder handed her a jingle. As she grew up, the elders taught her the traditional dances that are meant to lift prayers.
This year a new Cherokee drumming circle out of Millington, Tenn. will perform.
Fry Bread and other traditional cuisine will be available by Lacie’s, BBQ and burgers will be available from Baby Boy’s and Kountry Kettle Corn will serve up kettle corn.
Seating will be available, but attendees are encouraged to bring something for shade.
For more information, call 256-293-6464.