Native Americans have been portrayed unfairly and inaccurately in Hollywood productions which have caused many Americans to have stereotypical ideas of them.
This is the case according to Chris Adams, a member of the Poarch Band of Creek Indians from Atmore, Alabama. The inaccurate pop-culture depiction of Native Americans is one of the many reasons he is part of the Mvskoke Demonstrators.
The Mvskoke Demonstrators travel the Southeastern United States in hopes of educating others on real Native American history and culture.
On Nov. 18, ABAC’s Georgia Museum of Agriculture (GMA) hosted the Native American Experience, an event put on by The Eastern Mvskoke Demonstrators. The event lasted throughout the day starting at 9 a.m. and lasting until 4 p.m.
The Native American Experience brought a crowd to the GMA with over 500 individuals attending, including school groups.
The Experience consisted of stomp dancing demonstrations, canoe making, bow making, basket weaving, twining, blow gun, candle dipping and pottery. Museum visitors were also able to experience the Muskogee culture by visiting the 1750s fishing encampment.
Members of the audience were encouraged to participate in many of the activities.
The stomp dancing demonstration in particular allowed for audience inclusiveness as they repeated words from the Muskogee language and even had the opportunity to be involved with the dancing. Many children in the audience were more than happy to join in.
This was The Mvskoke Creek Demonstrators second year working with the GMA. The Mvskoke Creek Native Americans are found in the southeastern united states across the states of Alabama, Georgia, Florida and South Carolina.
In the previous Native American Events held by the GMA, they held pow-wows, a more western style dance that was not introduced to the area until Buffalo Bill’s Wild West show.
Traditional dances from local Native tribes had been lost for a time as they were not allowed to practice their beliefs or speak their language. However, now with public educational events like the one held at the GMA, the Muskogee Nation is keeping their traditions alive.
