By JOSH FRYE
News Staff Writer
Students from area schools got a glimpse into the lives of Southeastern Native American tribes last week as the Poarch Creek Indians held its annual Southeastern Indian Festival. School hours were held Wednesday and Thursday, April 4 and 5, and Friday until 2 p.m., April 6. The festival was open to the public Friday, from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Students were treated to a special history lesson from Native American living historians, the Oklahoma Msvkoke (Creek) Stomp Dancers, the Warriors of AniKituhwa and many more groups and individuals who traveled to Poarch to take part in the festival.
The festival included song and dance, storytelling, arts/crafts demonstrations, authentic Indian foods, and hands-on activities for kids.
The event was just one way of preserving the culture of the tribes and teaching children about the past and present tribes.
Among the many activities, students participated in a game of stickball, learned hunting and fishing techniques of the Native Americans, learned different arts and crafts of the many tribes, and learned stories and traditions of the Creek, Seminole, Choctaw, and Cherokee people.
The event welcomed over 3,000 students.