HOLLY HILL, S.C. — The Santee Indian Tribe is celebrating its 11th annual Pow Wow on Saturday in Holly Hill.
This traditional event pays homage to the tribe's culture through music, dancing, storytelling, food and more.
Tribe Chief Eric Pratt said he would like more Native American education in schools.
“They don’t teach it enough in schools," said Pratt. "I’ve heard that plenty enough times, and I'd love to see them teach more of that in schools to keep this tradition alive because if nobody keeps doing it, it's not going to go any farther. It's going to die out, and when it dies out, then nobody’s going to know anything about it.”
Vendors will be selling handmade jewelry and arts and crafts at the event. Joan "Ravenwood" Walker is one of those vendors and said each piece of art is unique.
“Everybody is buying from Walmart and Target and different places like that," said Walker. "When you come to a Pow Wow, you get handmade stuff by Native Americans and we each have our different way of making things and it speaks to you and that keeps our culture alive.”
Albert Tisdale is a council member of the tribe. He said that although this is to celebrate the Santee Indian Tribe, everyone in the community is welcome.
“We have a good time; we want to teach everybody, not just Indians," Tisdale said. "We teach everybody how to play the drum and dance. We have a good time out here, and we do it for our children and the elders in the tribe."
Gates open at 9 a.m. at the Santee Indian Organization, 432 Bayview St. in Holly Hill. The Grand Entry Dance begins at noon. Children six and under and adults 65 and older enter for free. There's a $10 entry fee for all other ages.