Our heritage park and museum will be the location of a three-day Native American Pow Wow 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 Pow Wow 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.

Schedule of events:

FRIDAY, OCTOBER 27TH

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Friday has been planned with students in mind.

There will be two sessions of circle events:

10:30 a.m.-12:00 p.m.

12:30 p.m.-2:00 p.m.

The circle events will include the following:

- Choctaw dancers in a powwow circle: social dances, stories and interactive dances with students
- Exhibition powwow category dance in circle: explanation of dances for each category present, hoop dancer and games for students to participate in
- Arvel Bird to perform and tells stories
- After each session, “Birds of Prey” demonstrations will be provided from representatives of Reelfoot Lake State Park.

An additional talk from the state park ranger will be provided at 3 p.m. for anyone who missed the first two demonstrations.

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

11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Vendors will be selling handmade, indigenous items and food all day.

1 p.m.
Opening oeremony starts, followed by:
- Grand entry, round dance, intertribal dancing, contest dancing and hoop dance demonstration
- Announcement of dance contest winners with prizes
- Closing ceremony