Lyndon Alec, an Alabama Coushatta hoop dancer, is among those scheduled to demonstrate Native American culture at the festival.

MOUNDVILLE, Ala. – The University of Alabama’s Moundville Archaeological Park, and scores of volunteers, will host the 17-year-old Moundville Native American Festival Oct. 5-8.

Celebrating Southeastern Indian arts, crafts and lifeways, more than 200 Native Americans and experts compete, perform and demonstrate the authentic arts, crafts and technologies associated with Cherokee, Creek, Choctaw, Chickasaw and Seminole cultures.

The Festival’s greatest impact, organizers say, is providing exposure to living Southeastern Native American culture as well as recreating a way of life ancestral to Alabama. The Festival relies heavily on archaeology for authenticating its activities. There is the Living History Camp, an 1800’s Creek hunting camp, the Knapper’s Corner, where stone tools are replicated, and the Arts and Crafts Arbors where traditional technologies come to life.

Both children and adults are encouraged to submerge themselves in hands-on activities, make & take crafts, eat native foods, listen to the oral tradition of storytelling, play stickball and enjoy live entertainment by Native American performing artists, ranging from traditional Muscogee flute to Choctaw bluegrass. This year features Glen Bonham, a talented musician and songwriter, and favorite Billy Whitefox, who won this year’s Native American Music Award for “Flutist of the Year.”

Described as the Big Apple of the 14th century, Moundville was America's largest city north of Mexico. Located near the Black Warrior River, this National Historic Landmark is the best preserved archaeological site of the Mississippian culture anywhere in the United States. There are 320-acres with more than 20 preserved prehistoric Indian mounds, campgrounds, picnic areas, boardwalk nature trail, theater, river bend lodge, and a museum housing the finest Mississippian-era artifacts ever found in North America.

At least 17,000 people are expected to come celebrate the rich heritage of Southeastern Indians. Twelve thousand of these are children, as third and fourth grade classes flock to the park Wednesday through Friday, so the general public is encouraged to visit on Saturday.

UA’s Moundville Archaeological Park is 14 miles off The University of Alabama campus at 1 Mound State Parkway in Moundville (south of I-20/59 and Tuscaloosa off Highway 69). The park is open daily, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.; the museum is open daily, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission is $7 for adults; $5 students & seniors; free for children ages five and younger; group discounts are available.

For more information please phone 205/371-2234, or visit us online at www.moundville.ua.edu.