Annual American Indian powwow comes to Stone Mountain

Many Atlantans toss around the term powwow when it comes to a corporate meeting, a creative convergence or some sort of resolution-minded rendezvous. But the true meaning of the word returns to its colorfully feathered Native American glory at the 11th Annual Indian Festival and Pow-Wow, the largest event of its kind in the state.

The four-day event, which begins Thursday, takes place at Stone Mountain Park’s Antebellum Plantation and Farmyard. It’s a heavy helping of Native American culture with members from more than 50 tribes in attendance. The traditions some of us have only read about hop out of the history books, including dancing, drumming, crafts, food and more.

The first two days are popular among school field trips. More than 10,000 students representing 120 schools will be attending. Performers go headdress-to-headdress Saturday and Sunday with dance and drumming competitions. Stone Mountain Park representatives recommend the Grand Entry at 1 p.m. Saturday when all tribes show their stuff in the dance circle.

Guests can troll through the artist market, which showcases items from vendors across North America and some from Central America, too. It’s all Native American and Native American-inspired work with an emphasis on handcrafted items. Some of the artists have had their work shown at the Smithsonian Institute and the British Museum.

The how-tos of basket weaving, bow making, open-fire cooking and other primitive pastimes are shown with live demonstrations. And visitors can wind their way through an East-meets-West encampment that looks at the living situations of both the Southeastern and Plains Indians. Teepees and other lodges Native Americans would have lived in are among the eye candy.

Saturday evening wraps with a performance by award-winning musician Arvel Bird. Bird, who wields both the flute and fiddle, fuses his Native American and Celtic heritage into song. Earlier this year, Bird released the disc “Ride, Indian, Ride” with its nods to both jazz and blues. The rollicking rock of the title track features Bird displaying his chops on both instruments. He and his band take the stage from 6 to 7 p.m.

11th Annual Indian Festival and Pow-Wow