UNION CITY, Tenn. — An opportunity to see and embrace other cultures: Friday was the start of the first ever Northwest Tennessee Native American Educational Powwow at Discovery Park of America in Union City, Tennessee.
During the event, visitors can learn about different indigenous cultures from all over the country. On Friday, drums were beating, people were dancing, and kids, schools, and families filled the park. They were all there for one reason: to learn.
“The educational curriculum doesn’t explain that we are still here and that we have our culture. It was bad times 200 years ago, but we survived, and we want to share a culture with everybody,” said Kimberly Greene Bugg.
She’s a member of the Oneida Nation on the Six Nations Reserve in Ontario, Canada. She helped set up the event and loves to help facilitate learning.
“We want to share a land, you know. That was our main focus in the very beginning is to share our land with other people. So, we want to teach people nowadays. We are here and willing to work with the general public and share everything,” she said.
She said this is a crucial event for learning, and the Discovery Park CEO Scott Williams, agreed.
“Those stories have been lost, and so we think it’s important to tell both the positive and negative aspects of history, because it is history, and we don’t want that to be forgotten,” he said.
Joy Dodson and Gavin Chambers go to school at ACT Christian Academy in Greenville, Kentucky.
“I think it’s cool because there are different things you get to learn about, like different kinds of names,” Joy said.
The event was made for kids like them.
“I think the language they speak and the clothes they wear are pretty cool too,” Gavin said.
Greene Bugg said her people love to educate others and honor those who came before them.
“It’s keeping those people who have sacrificed a lot for us to still be here, and that’s what we represent in the circle to dance, and that’s what we’re honoring — those people,” she said.
Greene Bugg also added that what is so important about this event is not only being able to see the different cultures, but also being able to see her people’s resilience.
More than 20 tribes are represented at the powwow. It continues Saturday and Sunday, starting at 10 a.m. each day.
Source: Paducahsun
