25-30 Tribes Celebrate Poarch Band of Creek Indians Pow-Wow

ATMORE, Ala.

The Poarch Band of Creek Indians celebrated their rich history in their traditional Native American regalia.

The women from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians competed Thursday in Atmore to become royalty.

It’s just one part of their 52nd annual Thanksgiving pow-wow.

Across the celebration area, 25-30 tribes, young, old, and even infants, laughed, ate and enjoyed their festivities.

“Our culture, our dance, the regalia and the resemblance you see in all the colors, vibrant colors, shows the vibrancy of how important our creek blood is to us,” said Stephanie Bryan, tribal chair and CEO for the Poarch Creek Indians.

The tribe started this back in the late 70s to kind of show people that Native Americans are still here

Bryan says there’s many opportunities to involve the community — especially since they are the only federally recognized tribe in Alabama.

“There’s so much education they see when they hear the roll of that drum and just the beat of what our ancestors went through,” she said. “There’s so much here they can experience. I just encourage everybody all over the state to come and spend either Thanksgiving with us or the day after.”