By Tiffany Powell, Contributing writer
Members of native tribes joined family and friends to celebrate Native American culture at the event in Kenner Heritage Park in Rivertown.
“I’m very big on heritage and passing on tradition,” Patricia Hogh of Metairie, a festival-goer, said. “It is wonderful so many turned out.”
The event, sponsored by the museum and the city of Kenner, is held to commemorate Native American artists from across Louisiana and explore Native American culture and its colorful history.
Museum curator Tracy Bruno organizes the event each year. Bruno says the festival is an opportunity to learn about Native American cultures in Louisiana and surrounding areas. The community can experience Native American culture first-hand through artist interaction and demonstrations such as basketry and beadwork.
“The artists here mean the world to me,” Bruno added, “What they are teaching is so important.”
The festival featured several hands-on activities and craft demonstrations. Groups such as the Yellow Moon Singers, Native Nations Intertribal Group and Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana performed traditional drumming, singing and dancing. The Tunica-Biloxi singers and other legendary keepers shared lessons of their history and culture through songs and
Marie Domangue of Chauvin attended the festival with three generations of her family. “I’m a Houma Nation Indian,” she said. “And I came to see the powwow.”
Domangue’s granddaughter, Aurora Redman, 11, was excited to attend the event and explore her ancestry. “My grandma teaches me how to do beadwork,” Aurora said. “I also started learning how to make the headbands they use in traditional dances.”
Monica Redman, Domangue’s daughter, stressed the importance of educating the younger generation. “I do cedar weaving, basketweaving, beadwork and palmetto weaving,” Redman said. “And I’m still learning.”
Dressed in dance attire, Cocoa Creppel of the United Houma Nation said many people are unaware of the many tribes still thriving in Louisiana. Creppel travels throughout the country performing old style, northern traditional dance.
“The biggest portion of my tribe is in LaFourche and Terrebonne Parish,” he said. “There are over 1,100 members in Jefferson Parish.”
The festival also offered traditional Native American delicacies such as fry bread and Indian tacos. Participants enjoyed flute playing and traditional games.
Tommy “Strong Buffalo” Varnado led visitors on a tour of a teepee erected on site. “Teepees are the temporary hunting lodging of nomadic plains peoples,” he said. “Few used the teepee year-round because of the cold weather in most places. Louisiana provides a perfect setting for living with Mother Nature.”
Tiffany Powell can be reached at firstname.lastname@example.org or 504.289.1646.