TUSCUMBIA – On Saturday, September 12, more than 150 Native American cultural demonstrators will gather at the banks of a natural spring of cold water, in Tuscumbia’s Spring Park. At this historic site, these representatives of a dozen tribes will present arts and crafts, music, dancing, life-skills, food, story-telling and all aspects of their heritage and culture. The day-long event will begin with arts and crafts displays at 9:00 a.m. when the park opens. A symbolic “Walk of Life” will bring hundreds of people of American Indian ancestry and others into the park at 10:00 a.m. as they retrace the Indians’ pathway back to their Southeastern homeland. At 11:00 there will be a Grand Entry of Native 
Americans (in full regalia and period attire) along with a Salute to American Veterans. Events continue throughout the day, ending at 6:00 p.m. American Indian foods will be available. The festival will include Stomp Dancing and the more flamboyant Pow Wow style of dancing. Music will be by noted performers Arvel Bird and Injunuity, who will also present a pre-festival concert on the lawn of the Florence Public Library on Friday, September 11 at 6:00 p.m. Festival events are free.
Oka Kapassa – Return to Cold Water is celebrated annually in Tuscumbia in recognition of the kindnesses shown by the town to Native Americans who were camped by the spring in preparation for the Indian Removal to the West (“Trail of Tears”). A newspaper of the day reported that townspeople came to the Indians bringing food, clothing and blankets, caring for them and “treating them like brothers.” This is the only known documentation of such kindness shown to the Indians in their suffering. Creek Chief Chilly McIntosh was quoted as saying, “As long as our nation remains upon the earth, we will recollect Tuscumbia.” The town is named for a Chickasaw Chief.
The Oka Kapassa Festival is in its 15th year and has been named as a Top Twenty Event by the Southeast Tourism Society. An educational day for elementary students will be held on Friday.
For more information: okakapassa.org; 256-383-0783 or 256-665-2540.
9:00 Walk of Life begins at
Tuscumbia Landing
(Trolley from Spring Park at 8 am)
9:00 Spring Park Opens
Native American Crafts,
Life-skills Demonstrations,
Music and Foods … All Day
9:45 Freeman Owle (Cherokee)
Storyteller/Opening Remarks
10:00 Arrival of the Walk of Life
10:30 Official Welcome
11:00 Grand Entry of Native
Americans and Salute to
Veterans
11:30 Chickasaw Dance Troupe
11:50 Eastern Band Cherokee
Dancers
12:10 Hoop Dance, Lyndon Alec
12:25 Arvel Bird (Paiute) Music
1:00 Chickasaw Dance Troupe
1:20 Injunuity (Choctaw/Chickasaw) Music
1:55 Eastern Band Cherokee
Dancers
2:15 Storyteller
2:30 Hoop Dance, Lyndon Alec
(Alabama)
2:45 Arvel Bird (Paiute) Music
3:15 Chickasaw Dance Troupe
3:35 Injunuity (Choctaw/Chickasaw) Music
4:00 Eastern Band Cherokee
Dancers
4:20 Hoop Dance / Conclusion
Of Arena Activities
5:00 Stickball On West Side of Pavilion
6:00 Festival Closes Che pisa la cho!
Pioneer Log Cabin Open on Sat. 10 am-4 pm
Note: Times and Events are Subject to Change
