16th Annual Intertribal Powwow – Oct. 2013

Whether you’re a Native American or not, the Annual Intertribal Powwow is a wonderful cultural event to attend and experience. The Powwow takes place the second weekend of each October, and is held at Port Royal.

Powwow Highlights

The event features an array of native American vendors who offer authentic handmade jewelry, arts and crafts and clothing. Other vendors will be offering food and beverages for sale. Also on site is an actual blacksmith, pipemaker, story tellers, and quite a bit more. A silent auction also takes place where visitors can bid on an excellent collection of interesting items.

Admission

There is a small admission fee: Adults (16-60) are $5.00; Active duty military- with ID, and children, 15 years of age and under, are admitted free; Senior citizens 60 and older pay only $2.00. There is no charge for parking. Proceeds from the Powwow are used to purchase Native American books which are donated to area school libraries. The Native Cultural Circle is an charitable education non-profit organization. Charitable donations are appreciated, and are tax deductible. Visitors are reminded to wear comfortable shoes, bring a lawn chair, and wear sun cover and a good sunscreen.

Event and Location History

The location is significant to Native Americans because it was the last stop before leaving Tennessee when the Cherokee Nation was forcefully removed during the Indian Removal of 1838. The Cherokee stayed overnight to rest and resupply before moving onward.

Because nearly 6,000 individuals died because of the move, the journey became known as the “Trail of Tears”. The ground at Port Royal is therefore considered sacred to the Native Americans, and the annual event commemorates bravery and passing of the many lives affected by the forced relocation. The old road bed (across the street from the Powwow grounds) along the northern portion of the Port Royal Historic Area, received its Trail of Tears certification on September 19th, 2006 from the National Park Service.