Alabama’s rich Native American history takes center stage at an event in east Alabama. The Blind Horse Pow Wow is a celebration featuring a drum group, traditional dancing, craft vendors, food and more. The annual celebration takes place on a farm in Alpine near Sylacauga . It’s the only pow wow in the Talladega region.
Lowrey Hesse is on the Turtle Island Native American Association’s Board of Directors. He said pow wows allow Native Americans to communicate across tribes.
“We try to encourage the children to understand the ways of the Native Americans and get involved as much as they can with the Native Americans," he said. "We have opportunities for the children to get out and dance.”
November is Native American heritage month. The name “Alabama” itself originates from Native American languages. Hesse emphasized that Native Americans have been influential throughout Alabama’s history.
“A lot of the times, these people do not know each other whatsoever, but there is a common bond among the Native Americans of the United States," Hesse said. "We are the smallest minority there is in this country, and we are the only group of people that have to carry membership cards to prove who we are.”
The Blind Horse Pow Wow is on Nov. 13 and 14. The event is $5 for adults.
