This is the fourth year for the Honor the Buffalo Native American Gathering, which is held on August 20-22 at the Grayson County Agriculture Park. Tom Pablo is the organizer for the experience.
“We want to take people back in history,” Pablo explained, “to the way things were before. The gathering teaches people about heritage and history, and how to live off of the land. We want to educate people, because most everyone has watched the television version of Native Americans. We are not a savage group, but we do know how to protect ourselves. Everything we wear we have made. Everything has a use.”
The fun begins on Friday with a day designated strictly to kids. Gates open at 10 a.m.
Pablo said the basis for the day is to show the youth hands on how to live life as a Native American.
“Tribes will be doing demonstration breakdowns of different dances; jingle dress dancing, traditional dancing for ladies and men, grass dancing and much more,” Pablo elaborated. “They will also get to make their own chokers or necklaces. Those will be made out of bones and beads.”
Saturday’s grand entrance ceremony will have the crowd awestruck at the many adornments on homemade outfits. The grand entry begins at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.
Participants include 30-40 different tribes (ex: Cherokee, Lakota, Shawnee) from Florida, Oklahoma, Tennessee, Georgia and Kentucky.
“Saturday is our bigger day,” Pablo stressed. “We will go in a circle and dance with other tribes. There will be an invocation prayer. We will also honor all of our veterans.”
Other things going on that weekend will be arts, crafts, food, drumming and flute playing.
“About 15-20 vendors will have items from their different tribes,’ Pablo said. “The tribes will be able to show their tribal ways, and how things are made within their tribe.”
For more information on the Native American Gathering, contact Pablo by phone at 502-552-7693.
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