Our heritage park and museum will be the location of a three-day Native American Powwow to be held Oct. 27 – 29, 2023.

The goal of this event, unique in Northwest Tennessee, is to provide a place for Indigenous people from tribes around the country to celebrate their culture while educating Discovery Park visitors on this aspect of our nation’s past, present and future.

The 2023 Northwest Tennessee Native American Educational Powwow will include competitions and displays of Indigenous storytelling, drumming, singing and competition dancing. There will also be Native American artisans, craftsmen and traders displaying and selling their work. Food vendors will provide opportunities to enjoy traditional cuisines like fry bread, tacos and hominy. All powwow activities take place on Discovery Park’s great lawn.

Those with documented tribal affiliation who want to compete or reserve a booth at the 2023 Northwest Tennessee Native American Education Powwow should call Kim and David Bugg at 901-833-6411 or email powwow@discoveryparkofamerica.flywheelstaging.com. To learn more about Native American pow-wows, click here.

Headstaff

Arena Director

Jimmy Reedy

Host Drum 

Ottertail, South Side

Tabulator

Meredith Printup Higgins

Eagle Staff Carrier

Dean Swimmer

Emcee

Rob Daugherty

Head Judge

Gabe Bullock

Vendors

Niles and Jean Aseret of the Navajo Nation

Handmade Jewelry

Lola Swimmer of the Cherokee Nation

Original Paintings and Framed Feathers

Cubert and Lacey Bell of Choctaw Nation

Native American Cuisine

Emilio & Marguerite Chavez of Santo Domingo Pueblo

Stone and Shell Jewelry

Shelly Bell of the Choctaw Nation

Beaded jewelry

Paul Rene’ Tamburro from the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk Abenaki Nation

Silver and Copper jewelry

Jon Tiger of the Muskogee Creek Nation

Native Paintings

Paintings and other collectable items

Lauri Lake of the Navajo Nation

Native American Cuisine

David Farnham of the Onondaga Nation

Antler Carvings and Leather Work

Michael & Ramona Frerichs of the Northern Arapaho Nation

Beadwork and Flutes

Schedule

Friday, October 27th

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday has been planned with students in mind.

• “Birds of Prey” demonstrations from representatives from Reelfoot Lake State Park.
• Choctaw storytelling and dancing, exhibition of powwow drum songs and demonstrations of hoop dancing and shopping indigenous items and food.

Interested in registering your student group? Schedule your group here.

Saturday, October 28th

10 a.m. to 9 p.m.

• Vendors will be selling handmade, indigenous items and food all day.

11 a.m.

• Opening Ceremony.

12 p.m.

• Grand entry, round dance, intertribal dancing, contest dancing and hoop dance demonstration.

5 p.m.

• Performance from Arvel Bird.

6 p.m.

• Closing Ceremony includes grand entry, round dance, intertribal dancing, contest dancing and hoop dance demonstration.

Sunday, October 29th

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

• Vendors will be selling handmade, indigenous items and food all day.

1 p.m.

• Opening Ceremony.
• Grand entry, round dance, intertribal dancing, contest dancing and hoop dance demonstration.
• Announcement of dance contest winners with prizes.
• Closing Ceremony.

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