Drums Along the Wildcat Pow Wow this weekend
Also, Greentown Community Garage Sale Sept. 22-23; Friends of the Library Book Sale Oct. 5-7
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Earlier this year, Kokomo Native Initiative’s Sally Tuttle and Gil Porter revealed that Kokomo would have its first modern-era Pow Wow, “Drums Along the Wildcat,” an opportunity for local native and supporting individuals to gather with each other from around Indiana and beyond, later on in 2023.
This led to a forum at IU Kokomo where Tuttle, Porter, IU Kokomo Professor Gregory Steel, representatives from several Midwestern native tribes, and those who were displaced by government mandates gathered to discuss what it means to be a Native American in today’s world.
Tuttle said the upcoming Pow Wow it would be more of “a gathering. Singing, dancing, eating.” All of the planning will culminate on Sept. 23 in Foster Park.
“The drums were silenced, and dancing stopped with the forced removal of many Native American families here in the 1840s,” said Kokomo Mayor Tyler Moore, a citizen of the Miami Tribe of Oklahoma. “It will be a special moment when the drums and the dancing resumes and our community can gather to celebrate together.”
David Foster, president of the Kokomo Early History Learning Center, noted that about 2.5 percent of Howard County residents selected Native American as their identity on the most recent U.S. federal census. Drums Along the Wildcat will be a place to share stories of local natives and connect with many who might have been displaced or moved away on their own.
“Drums Along the Wildcat” is a multi-tribal traditional gathering featuring drums, dancing, merchandise, and community services information. Sponsored by The Kokomo Native Initiative and the City of Kokomo, the event will be held at Foster Park, 721 W. Superior St., this Saturday.
Vendors open at 10 a.m., and the Grand Entry of flags and dancers into the drumming and dancing circle happens at 11 a.m. Special honor recognitions and various dancing and drumming exhibitions will take place periodically throughout the day, with an Evening Grand Entry at 6 p.m. The rain-or-shine event is free and open to the public. All are welcome.
Greentown Community Garage Sale
Greentown is having a Community Garage Sale this Friday and Saturday, Sept. 22-23. This is a special weekend of the fall season when families welcome visitors to the area for the community garage sales. Find the treasures you seek and explore the great things Greentown has to offer.
The Greentown Historical Society will participate with a garage sale at the Howard County Fairgrounds Metal Building from 9 a.m. - 4 p.m. on Friday and Saturday. The proceeds will be for structure repairs for the Society Building. Consider stopping by the Eastern School Corporation Building parking lot to shop some of the Greentown Farmer’s Market vendors that will be set up beginning at 9 a.m. on Saturday. Check out the map for more participating locations.
This event is organized by volunteers with Greentown Main Street Association. For more information feel free to contact them through their website or email greentownmainstreet@gmail.com. Welcome to Greentown, and Happy Shopping!
Friends of the Library Fall Book Sale
The Friends of the Library will host their annual Fall book sale Oct. 5, 6 and 7. The Friends book sales are an opportunity to buy used fiction and nonfiction books, DVDs and Blu-Rays, with materials for adults, young adults and children. All items are priced very affordably, with many books priced at $1 or less.
The Friends of the Library is a group of citizens who have a common interest in the Kokomo-Howard County Public Library’s welfare and are willing to help the library in various ways. They believe that good library service is important in a modern community. Since its beginning, the Friends have purchased more than $25,000 of goods and services for the library.
The sale will be held at KHCPL Main, 220 N. Union St., on the lower level in meeting rooms A & B. On Thu., Oct. 5, the sale is open only to teachers. On Fri., Oct. 6, the sale is open only to members of the Friends of the Library.
Individual membership costs $5 a year. A family membership costs $10 a year, and a lifetime membership costs $100. Memberships can be purchased at the door. On Sat., Oct. 7, the sale is open to the general public from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.