COLBERT COUNTY-On September 8th and 9th Spring Park in Tuscumbia, Alabama, will come alive with the sights and sounds of the Native Americans when representatives from more than a dozen tribes return to share their heritage with the communities of the Shoals and the surrounding area at the place the Chickasaw called Oka Kapassa, meaning Cold Water. The Oka Kapassa – Return to Cold Water Native American Festival will bring more than 150 artists and demonstrators to display their work, perform music and dance and demonstrate the life skills of the Native Americans.
History
When Creek Indians were encamped at Tuscumbia in preparation for their removal to the West, the townspeople, witnessing their deplorable condition, brought food, clothing and blankets to them. This spirit of goodwill in Tuscumbia is the only known documentation of such an act. A newspaper of the day published the words of Chief Chilly McIntosh–“As long as our nation remains upon the earth, we will recollect Tuscumbia.” According to Terry McGee, Oka Kapassa Festival Chairperson, this is what the festival is based upon and why the Nations travel each year to “The Homeland.”
Education
It has been said, “If the stories fall silent, who will teach the children?” Elementary school students from across the region will attend special activities on Friday, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. Events include storytelling, dancing, music, art, and living history demonstrations.
Education is considered the key component of the Oka Kapassa Festival, drawing recognition among educators and historians, alike. Lezlie Martin, who heads the Friday school day event, says that participation has grown tremendously as additional schools have discovered the program. “We expect about 1,000 elementary kids to share the experience this year, as well as about 100 UNA Students who volunteer their time to assist.” According to Martin, 4th and 5th grade students rotate through stations where the Native Americans provide stories, music and demonstrations.
Saturday’s Oka Kapassa Festival
The public is invited to Spring Park on Saturday, when festivities begin at 9:00 a.m. and continue in the arena and throughout the park until 6:00 p.m. Anita Flanagan, Co-Chair states, “Dancers in full regalia will demonstrate both Pow Wow style and Stomp Dance. Pow Wow has more bling and is high energy, while Stomp Dance is traditional and ceremonial. We will also feature northern and southern drums this year.”
Festival events also include blow gun, tomahawk, and stickball demonstrations, flint-knapping, basket making, pottery, beading and jewelry, archery, hoop dancing, storytelling, corn shuck doll artistry, hair braiding, historical encampments, drum and flute, and native language booths. Native American foods will include buffalo burgers, fry bread and Indian tacos. The group Injunuity (Chickasaw and Choctaw) will return to this year’s festival to present a unique combination of traditional and contemporary Native American music.
Festival Chairperson Terry McGee, said this is the seventeenth year the festival has been presented and stated that it has grown tremendously as more and more people recognize its significance. Last year’s attendance was estimated to be well over 10,000 people over the two days. The festival is designated an Alabama 200 event in celebration of the State’s Bicentennial. It has been named a Top 20 Event by the Southeast Tourism Society and in 2016 it was designated a National Park Service Centennial event. Credited for its authenticity and educational focus, the festival requires participants be Native American and hold Federally recognized documentation.
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Additional Community Events
In addition to activities in Spring Park, several community events are planned:
The Chickasaw Dance Troupe from Oklahoma and Indian flute player and storyteller Will Harjo (Creek) will be part of a special program on Thursday, September 7th at 6:00 p.m. at the Tuscumbia Depot, where the newest Singing River Sculpture is tentatively scheduled to be unveiled. The statue depicts a Native American and is part of a series of statues tied to the musical heritage of the Muscle Shoals area. This event is sponsored by the Singing River Sculpture Committee and the City of Tuscumbia. The performance is sponsored by the Oka Kapassa Festival, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, and Alabama State Council of the Arts. In case of rain, it will be held in the Roundhouse. There is no charge to attend.
An event will be held at the Florence Indian Mound at 6:00 p.m. on Thursday, September 7th. Freeman Owle (Cherokee) will portray Sequoyah in a first-person dramatization. This free event will last approximately one hour. It is sponsored by the Oka Kapassa Festival, Alabama State Council of the Arts and Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, and the City of Florence.
An event will also be held on Friday, September 8th from 6:00 – 7:00 p.m. at the Florence Public Library featuring music by Injunity, a demonstration by acclaimed hoop dancer Lyndon Alec (Alabama) and a presentation by storyteller Amy Bluemel (Chickasaw). Seating will be provided. It is sponsored by the Oka Kapassa Festival, Alabama State Council on the Arts, and the Florence Lauderdale Public Library.
Important Festival Support
Oka Kapassa-Return to Cold Water is made possible by the Alabama State Council on the Arts, the City of Tuscumbia, the Chickasaw Nation, Colbert County Community Development Commission, Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Onaway Trust, Poarch Band of Creek Indians, TVA Community Credit Union, and the Tennessee Valley Authority. Other local businesses and community sponsors are listed on the festival website.
More Information:
During activities on Saturday, festival organizers assure that there will be plenty of Native American foods to sample and authentic handcrafted items to purchase. They also recommend festival-goers bring a lawn chair and plan to spend the day. In case of inclement weather the alternate location is the Florence-Lauderdale Coliseum. For a full schedule of events or for more information, visit www.okakapassa.org, the Oka Kapassa facebook page, or call Colbert County Tourism at 256-383-0783 or 800-344-0783.
