Yamacraw, Guale, Choctaw, and Creek are some of the First Nation peoples living in Coastal Georgia and Lowcountry of South Carolina before Europeans arrived.
For centuries Native people thrived here because of the climate and diverse saltmarsh ecosystems that provided bountiful food sources year round. First Nation cultures continue today in Coastal Georgia and across the country, and that’s something the Lowcountry Powwow and Cultural Festival wants to lift up.
This weekend the Lowcountry Powwow and Cultural Festival kicks off its 21st year celebrating Indigenous peoples at Millstone Landing along the banks of the Savannah River in Hardeeville, S.C. The cost is $5 to attend each day of the two-day event which hosts cultural demonstrations, entertainment, and more than 30 vendors selling Native-made jewelry, art, and crafts.
Credit: Photo provided
Credit: Photo provided
The powwow focuses on education through entertainment. Singing, dancing, drumming, storytelling and sharing regalia help bring different Tribes and non-Native people together to learn from shared experiences. Dancers and representatives from the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians, Cherokee of Georgia, Choctaw Nation, Muscogee Nation, and more share culture and history. An Aztec husband and wife team also perform traditional South American dance.
Retired Hardeeville police officer, Mike Benton, has organized the event since its beginning in 2001. And though he is not a Tribal member, Native issues, culture, and knowledge are important to him.
“Like a lot of people who grew up down here, my family has tales of relatives who were indigenous,” reflected Benton. “I’m not an enrolled member of any Tribe, but I do want to be part of educating people about these cultures that are all around us, that have always been here. Many years ago I was invited to an inter-tribal powwow, and it was powerful. I wanted to help bring an experience like that to my community.”
Credit: Photo provided
Credit: Photo provided
The celebration boasts a range of entertainers and educators who have participated over multiple years. Robert Redhawk, a Cherokee cultural teacher in Bryson City, North Carolina, returns each spring to set up an historically-researched 1800s Cherokee camp. He and his family engage audiences with what it might have been like living as a Cherokee in the early to mid 1800s.
“I always love coming to the Lowcountry Powwow in Hardeeville,” said Redhawk. “It’s great seeing old friends and meeting new ones. Plus it is an honor and pleasure to educate the public on the Cherokee way of life in 1828.
Ric Bird of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has also entertained at the powwow over multiple years. A storyteller noted for his humorous Native stories, he also sings, dances, and helps keep the beat for inter-tribal dancers with his traditional drum named Birdchopper.
“Our goal with the festival is to broaden people’s knowledge,” said Benton. “Even though we don’t think we see Native people, they are all around us with important knowledge and culture. We just want to help build connections and foster respect for people who have always been and who are still here.”
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: Lowcountry Powwow and Cultural Festival returns after one year hiatus due to COVID
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