Native American festival
to draw thousands
By LOIS KINDLE

JUDY TAYLOR PHOTO Native American dancers from across the country will perform at the 2016 Pow Wow & Cultural Festival Dec. 2, 3 and 4 at RedHawk Ranch in Wimauma.
The RedHawk Ranch retreat in Wimauma will become a center of activity from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. Dec. 2, 3 and 4 at the 2016 Pow Wow & Cultural Festival.
“The festival is a way for people to learn more about the Native American way of life and our culture,” said Brenda Hoshaw, who is Cherokee and Cheyenne, co-owner of RedHawk Ranch with her husband Bud, who is Mamacqtaw and Menominee. “It’s for people of all ages and a great way to spend time with your family and friends.
While celebrating all things Native American, this year’s event will honor veterans and active members of the military.
“The natives do a very special ceremony (for them), and it will take place in our arena,” Bud said. “They are all invited to take part.”
Anyone with an active military ID, dog tag, Uniformed Services ID Card or DD214 will receive free admission. In addition, the James A. Haley Veterans Hospital help bus will be on site to answer questions.
General admission is $8 per person. Children younger than 13 and parking are free.

LOIS KINDLE PHOTO
Attending the 2016 Pow Wow & Cultural Festival at RedHawk Ranch is a way for area residents to learn about the Native American way of life and its culture.
A 2000 Harley Davidson Electra Glide in excellent condition, a bike cover and new helmet will be raffled off at 3 p.m. on Saturday, Dec. 3. Tickets are $20 apiece and may be purchased ahead by visiting the ranch at 4110 C.R. 579 S. or on Friday or Saturday at the event. Ticket holders do not need to be present to win.
At 1 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, items donated by native vendors will be auctioned. These may include handmade wooden flutes, rattles, gourds, silver jewelry and music CDs. There will also be a daily 50/50 raffle.
Native American performers and artisans from North and South America will transform 18 acres of Redhawk Ranch into an authentic, indigenous village.
“We have some coming all the way from Ecuador and Peru,” Bud said.
Rick Bird and Birdchopper from Cherokee, N.C., will provide live entertainment, including native dancing, drumming and singing. Bird is bringing 10 members of three generations of his family, he said.
“My great-grandfather, Birdchopper Bird Going, was one of the last Cherokee warriors who fought for our people to stay in the mountains of North Carolina (during the time of the Trail of Tears),” he said. “Our group is named after him.”
Bird said the family travels all over the country doing shows and recently performed during halftime at the University of Tennessee vs. University of Kentucky football game in Knoxville.
Ojibwe dancer and Native American flutist Carrie Gaskin, and three others will also perform in full regalia.
All area natives are invited to participate in a dance competition in the arena, Bud said.
“All they have to do is show up,” he continued. “There will be cash prizes.”

BUD HOSHAW PHOTO
Native American performers will be dressed in full regalia will dance, play flutes and sing in the central arena at the upcoming 2016 Pow Wow & Cultural Festival at RedHawk Ranch.
Reuben Culley of Seminole, Okla., will demonstrate his artful feather painting; former international champion Rod Green, of Myakka City, will do chain-saw sculpting and blacksmith Randy Rain will forge on-site. The making of arrowheads and spears with stone will also be demonstrated.
More than 30 vendors will sell pottery, leather goods, handmade moccasins and the like, and the Native Way shop will be open for business. Visitors will find eclectic art, drums, dreamcatchers, prayer fans and more inside.
“The festival’s a good place to do some very different Christmas shopping,” Brenda said.
In 2015, more than 2,000 visitors attended the inaugural two-day festival, which was expanded to three days this year.
Apache Blood will provide native and traditional foods, including fry bread, Indian tacos and buffalo burgers. C & J Specialty will offer barbecued pork and ribs, burgers, funnel cakes, corn dogs, Chipstix and fresh, hand-squeezed lemonade.
The 2016 Pow Wow & Cultural Festival is being sponsored by RedHawk Ranch and Born to Ride.
RedHawk Ranch is at 4110 C.R. 579 S. in Wimauma. For more information, call 813-997-9639. Their website is thenativewayshop.com.