Natchez native Dr. Charles Borum has been involved with Boy Scouts nearly all his life — first as a scout and now as a scout master.

&uot;I get a kick now out of seeing the boys enjoy it the way I used to enjoy it,&uot; Borum said.

His veterinary office on Jefferson Davis Boulevard is lined with pictures of past scout troops and items related to Native American culture.

His love for scouting led him to start the Natchez Powwow in the 1980s. He still serves as Powwow Committee chairman.

Borum lived in Oklahoma for a short time before returning to Natchez. While there, he was able to attend numerous Powwows.

&uot;As far as I know there had never been an Oklahoma-style Powwow (in Mississippi) until we did it here,&uot; Borum said.

A Powwow — a festival that includes Native American song and dance — is a great way to stimulate interest in scouting, Borum said.

Natchez has had a Powwow for the past 11 years and will hold its 12th at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians in March.

Borum said he owes a lot of the credit for past Powwows to people connected with the Grand Village.

&uot;If I didn’t have the help that I got at the Indian Village (we) probably couldn’t keep doing it,&uot; Borum said.

Borum said he wanted to have a Natchez Powwow so local scouts could be exposed to Native American outfits and dance.

&uot;Native American culture has an appeal to a lot people,&uot; Borum said.

While scouting as a child, Borum became interested in Native-American life.

He was also a member of the Order of the Arrow, a honor and service society for boy scouts. The order also studies Indian lore. &uot;That’s when a lot of us got our interest in the Indian culture,&uot; he said.

Borum has served for the past 10 years as the scout master for Troop 157.