Chitimacha nation to hold inaugural Powwow Oct. 18

The Sovereign Nation of the Chitimacha and Chitimacha Powwow Planning Committee will host the inaugural Chitimacha Powwow 2014 presented by Keta Group, LLC on Oct. 18 in the Pavilion at Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel.
The Chitimacha Powwow is open to the public and features a climate-controlled arena with bleacher seating, competition dancing and food and craft vendors.
The Chitimacha Powwow will open to the public 11 a.m. on Saturday, Oct. 18 and continue until 10 p.m. Dancer registration times are 10 a.m. and 5 p.m. Gourd Dances will be held at noon and 6 p.m. Grand entry times are 1 p.m. and 7 p.m.
“The powwow committee is excited to invite everyone to our first public powwow,” said Chitimacha Cultural Director, Kimberly S. Walden. “Unlike the tribal fairs held years ago, this event will be a day solely dedicated to celebrating Native American culture. This powwow has been many years in the making and with the addition of our hotel we can now host this wonderful event. Our powwow will be held indoors at Cypress Bayou Casino Hotel’s Pavilion which is a great space for events. With the support of tribal members, our sponsors and the community we hope to make this year’s gathering a huge success and for this to become an annual event which would add to the many other great events already held in the Acadiana area. The event provides a unique opportunity for the public to experience Native American music and dance as well as to enjoy the colorful regalia, Native foods and crafts.”
The Powwow is a celebration of native cultures through song, dance and fellowship.
Tickets are available at the door for $5 (children 5 years and under are free). For more information, call the Chitimacha Cultural Department at 337-923-9923.
Keta Group LLC is a tribally owned, Louisiana limited liability company that was founded in 2003 by the Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana, a federally recognized North American Indian Tribe. The product and service offerings of the Keta Group family of companies are focused on information technology services, disaster recovery services, space and defense engineering services, construction, and facility management services associated with facility and base operations support.
The Chitimacha Tribe of Louisiana is a federally recognized tribe. Its current home is the Chitimacha Reservation near Charenton, although it once occupied about one-third of what is now Louisiana, as some of the original inhabitants of the Atchafalaya Basin, Mississippi River Delta and the Gulf Coast. Chitimacha is a sovereign nation governed by a tribal council. The government operates similar to other governments, providing services to enrolled tribal members and infrastructure for our community.