On April 8 and 9, the Golden Eagles Intertribal Society (GEIS) held its 15th annual Powwow in Petal, Miss.

Tammy Greer started the Powwow when Joe Bohanon invited her to be a co-advisor for GEIS. She agreed because she wanted to support the university’s effort to recruit more Native American students. The annual Powwow served both as a recruitment effort and as a way to educate the university and the Hattiesburg community about Native American culture.

“Many folks in Mississippi don’t know that Choctaws, the Natives who were historically from this area, are still in this area” said Greer.

The Powwow provides an opportunity for the community to come and experience a contemporary Native American-focused event. Powwows are hosted on the third weekend in April (unless that conflicts with Easter) at Willie Hinton Park in Petal.

The Golden Eagles Intertribal Society raises funds through grants, events on campus, and from businesses in Petal.
The annual Powwows are competitions so dancers come to compete for prize money.

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