WINTERVILLE, Miss. (AP) - Winterville Mounds Park and Museum is gearing up for this year’s Native American Days, a multi-day cultural festival celebrating the area’s Native American heritage.
“This is our largest event that we put on at Winterville Mounds,” said Kelli Ferris, the museum’s historian and research specialist.
What began in 2003 as a food festival with Native American cooking and archery demonstrations has morphed into what is known today as Native American Days, an event that highlights the traditions and culture of the people indigenous to the Delta, Ferris said.
“Most people don’t know that Native Americans have been here for thousands of years,” she said. “We really try to entertain and educate people and allow them to be immersed in the Native American culture.”
The festival, set for 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily Wednesday through Saturday, will feature Native American games; ancient weapon demonstrations; storytelling; singing; and arts and crafts vendors.
“The whole point of Native American Days is that we get local and surrounding schools in the Delta to come out and be educated on Native American culture,” she said, adding that schools in Leland, Greenville, Cleveland and as far as Batesville are participating this year.
Several of the activities and demonstrations teach children that “Native American traditions are still alive and well,” Ferris said.
“Several of these traditions that have been practiced for thousands of years are still rich in cultures, especially in the Delta’s culture.”
Kids will once again get to take part in classic Native American-based games, including chunky stone, Indian darts and relay races.
They also can look forward to a Choctaw Stickball Tournament, set for 1 p.m. Saturday.
“It’s like lacrosse, football and soccer all mashed into one game. It’s very energetic, fast-paced and fun,” Ferris said, adding the Choctaw Indians, ages 14-17, will provide the equipment and coach teams.
Also new this year is a photo booth, where children can take pictures with Native American tribesmen and Native American props.
“It’s something new this year that we thought would be fun to do,” Ferris said.
“The pictures are free, but they can donate $1 to the museum if they want the photos mailed or emailed to them.”
Food vendors will be serving Native American cuisine, such as turkey legs, Indian tacos, buffalo sausages and buffalo burgers; and several arts and craft vendors will be on site, selling Native American-themed items.
One vendor participating this year specializes in Native American flutes, Ferris said.
“You can get exact replicas of Native American instruments that are still used today,” she said, noting that other vendors will be selling Choctaw Indian baskets, beadwork, bows and arrows, dream catchers, jewelry, rocks and headbands.
Several Native American entertainers, including Southern Pine Singers, the Cherokee Historical Association and Native American Culture Exchange, will take to the stage from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.
Activities at Native American Days are free to the public, though donations are accepted. Craft and food vendors will charge, with prices ranging from $10 to $50.
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Information from: Delta Democrat-Times, https://www.ddtonline.com
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