Native American descendents in The Times and Democrat Region will celebrate their heritage and share their talents with the public in Springfield and Blackville this weekend.

The Rocky Swamp American Indian Ministries will hold its annual festival on Highway 4 near Springfield from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14. Festivities will continue Sunday.

Keith Hiott, spiritual leader and chief of the group, said the public is welcome to participate in the festival.

He said the celebration is not a fund-raiser, but is designed to be entertaining and educate people about Native American traditions.

Kathryn Kesson, who is Cherokee, said she and others participating in the festival will share the "different medicines" that are carried within every person. Her medicine is cooking, Kesson said.

Her husband's medicine is teaching, she said, adding that medicine can also be storytelling or dancing. Everyone's medicine is different, Kesson said. Stories that have been passed down in her culture for generations will also be told at the festival, Kesson said, adding that she and other Native Americans will be dressed in full regalia and perform traditional dances.

"Then we ask the public to join in a candy dance," Kesson said. "We play the drums and throw candy out on the ground. When the music stops, the children grab the candy."

Also featured will be the potato dance. For it, Kesson said each person has a partner, and, while facing each other, they have to hold a potato between their faces. She said when the potato drops, they are out of the game.

In addition to dancing and storytelling, Native American artifacts will also be on display at the event. An example is the bone from a deer's leg that was sharpened and used to sew moccasins together, Kesson said.

Also on tap this weekend near Blackville will be the Rivers, Rails and Crossroads Discovery Center's second annual celebration of Native American Heritage Day from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 14.

The event, which is free to the public, will include a mini pow-wow presented by Two Hawks Trading, a Native American group featured earlier this year on the History Channel. Two Hawks and a women's group of Native American dancers, Winter Hawk Medicine Drum, will be performing their cultural songs, dances and storytelling.

Hand-made Native American crafts, such as bead jewelry and drums, will be for sale. Vendor spots are still available and are free of charge. For more information or to sign up as a vendor, call the Discovery Center at 803-284-3976 or e-mail blackvilledc@scprt.com.

T&D Correspondent Dale Linder-Altman can be reached by e-mail at jerryanddale@lowcountry.com. Discuss this and other stories online at TheTandD.com.

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