CHOCTAW, Miss. (Queen City Newsfeed) – The Choctaw Indian Fair kicked off Wednesday.
The fair is a 4 day event featuring a carnival, a stickball tournament, the Choctaw Princess crowning, traditional social dancing, and arts and crafts— just to name a few!
Director of Public Information Misty Brescia said this event is vital to her community.
“The Choctaw Indian Fair is extremely important to not just us a people and the tribe,— Of course this event is wonderful for us. It’s like a homecoming for people who leave. It’s a homecoming for people who might not see each other all year long and then they come together for the Choctaw Fair. Of course, we have Choctaw Stickball and then that’s who gets to say they’re the winner for a year, but it terms of people on the outside for non-tribal members, this event is important for them to know about and to come and learn about the Choctaw people because we’re still here. For a lot of people, they don’t know that the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians is here. They don’t know about Choctaw people, and this is an event where we can put the best foot forward, show our culture and show who we are as a people,” said Brescia.
Brescia said the main event is the Choctaw stickball tournament. We were lucky enough to get footage of Wednesday’s youth division game.
“We have youth and we have adults, and Saturday night we’re going to end with thrilling action of Choctaw Stickball with the men’s and women’s final,” said Brescia.
Another important tradition are the social dances the tribe puts on every year.
“We present the dances that the tribe has done for generations,” said dance coordinator and vendor, Wendy Thompson.
In fact, many of the attractions you’ll find at the Choctaw Indian Fair, come from traditions that have been passed down to each generation.
“It’s also to let people know what was brought form the past to the present,” said Thompson. “Actually, the basket weaving was used a long time ago to carry water and food.”
Thompson said she hopes the traditions will live on.
“Keeping the tradition going, and most of the items that they sell, it’s handmade. They try to keep it going. Some use it for income, others use it to help their community,” stated Thompson. “I believe that it’s important that our kids and the younger generation learn, so they can take forward. Not only that, but to keep it going.”
Friday night the fair will have the “I love the 90’s” show.
Saturday the fair will wrap up with musical guest Tyler Hubbard and the Choctaw Stickball Championship game.
For more information on the Choctaw Indian Fair, click here.
