by Sabrina Simms

NATCHEZ — Saturday and Sunday, the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians will celebrate three decades of helping keep Native American music and culture alive at the 30th annual Natchez Powwow.

The grounds of the Grand Village, located at 400 Jefferson Davis Blvd. will be filled with traditional dancing, food vendors, arts and crafts tents and other activities in the two-day event.

Director Lance Harris said the Grand Village hosts performances of the traditional war dances that are still performed by various Native American tribes today.

Tribes that will be represented include the Choctaw, Comanche, Kiowa, Natchez, Otoe, Osage and Ponca — with tribe members leading the festivities.

The Otoe Red Rock Gourd Dance Organization of Oklahoma will host gourd dances with tribes from Texas, Indiana and Louisiana.

Performances of gourd dances will be at 1 and 7 p.m. Saturday and 1 p.m. Sunday. Performances of intertribal and grand entry dances will be at 2 p.m. both days and 8 p.m. Saturday.

“We’ve got a good, packed schedule,” Harris said.

He said event chairman, Dr. Chuck Borum arranged for the Natchez Indian tribe from Oklahoma and the Mississippi Choctaw tribe to play a stickball game at 10 a.m. Saturday on the grounds.

“A lot of tribes call it the ‘little brother of war’ because it’s a very violent and hard-played game,” Harris said.

He said the Native American stickball game is similar to lacrosse.

“Generally, the people have two sticks and one ball in play,” Harris said. “The two teams try to get the ball back and forth. The ultimate goal is to hit the stickball pole out in the middle of the playing field.”

Harris said different vendors on the grounds throughout the weekend allow attendees to purchase souvenirs, food or to make their own Native American crafts.

“There will be a variety of Native American crafts,” Harris said, “anything from jewelry to beadwork. … Food vendors vary from fried bread and meat pies to traditional fair-type food.”

Harris said gates would open at 10 a.m. Saturday and again at 11 a.m. Sunday.

Tickets will be sold at the gate at $5 for adults and $3 for children under 12. Tickets are sold separately for Saturday and Sunday events.

The Powwow will be moved to Trinity Episcopal School in the event of rain.

Harris said he expects attendance to either meet or exceed their usual records.

“We normally have about 4,000 people that come over the weekend,” Harris said. “We’re hoping for more than that this year — as many people as we can possibly get out here.”

Harris encourages everyone to attend, whether young or old.

“We’re very excited that this has been going on for 30 years and we hope for it to go on for another 30 (years). We hope everyone will come out, celebrate with us and participate.”