TUSCUMBIA-An all-day celebration of the culture and traditions of the indigenous people who once
inhabited North Alabama is planned for Tuscumbia, AL, on Saturday, September 13. “Oka Kapassa: Return
to Coldwater” Native American Festival will have activities offering free family fun and educational
opportunities featuring hands-on demonstrations taking place in Spring Park (South end of Main Street,
downtown.)
Oka Kapassa Festival chair, Terry McGee announces a new and exciting event as part of this year’s festival.
“To kick things off on Friday, September 12, we will have a pre-festival concert of Native American flute
and Celtic fiddle music performed by nationally recognized artist Arvel Bird (Piute). His musical brand,
“Celtic Indian”, reflects his mixed-blood American Indian and Celtic heritages — With violin, fiddle, Native
flutes, and Irish whistles, Arvel will present a powerful tapestry of music and stories. He has performed in
Scotland, England, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand and Canada, where his performances have ignited
concert venues, symphony halls, festivals, and more. Arvel has been a featured performer on tours with Glen
Campbell, Tom T. Hall, Ray Price, Louise Mandrell, and Clay Walker. You can expect to be transfixed and
transformed!” (www.arvelbird.com)
The park will open on Friday at 5:00 for a select group of Native American crafts demonstrators and sellers
to be set up early. Tribal demonstrators will be treated for supper, remembering the kindness of the town and
its unique role in history when citizens fed and cared for Native Americans during the Removal. Ham and
white beans, roasted corn, and concessions will also be available for the public to purchase.
The concert with Arvel Bird performing will be held at 7:00, followed at approximately 8:00 by a symbolic
“Lighting of the Torches” originating from the Trail of Tears Statue at Coldwater Falls (waterfall), moving
quietly along the water in remembrance of those who were forcibly removed during the tragic years of the
Indian Removal.
Festival organizers encourage you to “come early as temperatures cool, bring your chairs or blankets, and
enjoy the concert and all the preliminary festival activities, then join us for the full festival on the next day!”
In case of inclement weather, the concert (only) will move to the Roundhouse at the Tuscumbia Depot.
On Saturday, September 13th, festivities get underway in Spring Park at 10:00 a.m. with the Grand Entry at
11:00 a.m. Special crafts, fancy and traditional dance demonstrations by Chickasaw, Cherokee, and Choctaw
dancers, storytelling and music will all be on the agenda and authentic Native American artwork and crafts
will be available for purchase. Expect to see returning hoop dancer and festival favorite Lyndon Alec
(Alabama). He will also be performing with a surprise guest! Amy Bluemel (Chickasaw) will again be
sharing the special stories and legends of the First Peoples. Drum will be by the Southern Pine Singers (Choctaw). There will be many beautiful crafts by artisans including basket weaving by Sue Fish (Chickasaw). Will Harjo (Muskogee Creek) will be demonstrating the art of flute-making. Hands-on activities and life-skill demonstrations will be ongoing.
Several well-known American Indian cooks will attend and prepare foods that were developed by their
ancestors. Mary Newman (Eastern Cherokee) will demonstrate traditional outdoor cooking of the 1800s,
preparing foods in cast iron and clay pots over a campfire. Chloe Thompson (Choctaw) will be preparing a
traditional hominy and pork dish. Juanita Gardinski and her brother Billy Thompson (Choctaw) are returning
to Oka Kapassa to serve delicious and authentic Native American foods such as buffalo stew and burgers, fry
bread, Indian tacos, fish, alligator, and roasted corn. Gardinski will also demonstrate bead work and share
Choctaw culture with festival goers.
The history of interaction by townspeople with the “First Peoples” is the reason that Tribes are returning to
Oka Kapassa. Meaning “Cold Water”, Muscogee words spoken by the Chickasaw, Oka Kapassa is a
reference to the Big Spring that is today a focal point of Spring Park. When pioneers of European heritage
arrived around 1815 at Big Spring there was a spirit of welcome by Chickasaw Chief Tuscumbia. In return
the citizens of the young town named it for the revered chief. Less than two decades later American Indians
were suffering through a painful removal to reservations in the West. The townspeople, led by churches,
brought food, blankets, and clothing to aid the sick and weary who were gathered in encampments at Big
Spring during the forced journey that has come to be called the “Trail of Tears.” The only documented
account of such compassion in the entire United States appeared in a local newspaper of the day – Creek
Chief Chilly McIntosh wrote, “As long as our Nation remains upon this earth, we will recollect Tuscumbia.”
It is in recognition of this shared history of compassion that the festival is held each year. The Coldwater
Stagecoach Stop, on Dickson St. will be open 10:00 – 4:00 during Saturday’s festival to provide living
history of the time-period and of the citizens of Tuscumbia, 1815-1830.
The daylong event in the park concludes at 5 p.m. Festival goers are encouraged to bring lawn chairs.
Admission is free. In case of inclement weather, Saturday’s festival will move to Northwest Shoals
Community College.
The Oka Kapassa – Return to Cold Water Festival is recognized as one of the nation’s most authentic
festivals of its kind. All Oka Kapassa demonstrators are uniquely qualified to share their heritage with those
who participate often expressing their love of returning to Tuscumbia each year. With this love they bring the
best of their talents, skills, and knowledge of Native culture.
The festival has received recognition as a Top Twenty Event in the Southeast and education is a key
component, reaching approximately 2,000 elementary students leading up to the festival through on-site
school programs and teacher training, as well as providing enrichment for the many festival attendees.
Among those sponsoring groups who make the Oka Kapassa Festival possible are the Alabama State Council
of the Arts, the Northwest Council of RC&D, Tennessee Valley Authority, Colbert County Community
Development Commission, the Poarch Creek of Alabama, City of Tuscumbia, and Colbert County
Commission, with promotion provided by Alabama Mountain Lakes Tourist Association and Colbert County
Tourism. Oka Kapassa Festival operations are overseen by a board of directors.
For more information, call Colbert County Tourism 256.383.0783 or visit www.okakapassafestival.org .
Follow the festival on The Oka Kapassa Festival – Return to Coldwater Facebook page.
Media Release/Ninon Parker, Oka Kapassa Festival Media Rep
