Photo Feature By Al Harris

Scenes from Native American Powwow at JSU

Jerry Lang of Gadsden, of the Tuscarora tribe, offers a smudging to native American dancers Saturday morning. Smudging is a cleansing ritual performed by "bathing" the body in smoke from a smoldering bundle of sage, or sage and juniper. Smudging is usually done before participating in American Indian rituals.

Mary Beth Elkins of Gadsden (Creek/Cherokee) steps up for a smudging before she dances.

Keither Groover of Steel is Little Badger. He's of the Creek Nation.

Tommy Wildcat of Tahlequah, Okla. won the 2002 Native American Music Award. He is of the Cherokee Nation, Oklahoma.

Jesse Zavala of Glencoe, a Mescalero Apache from New Mexico, leads the Little Warrior Drum Group consisting of, clockwise, Josh Elkins, Zack Elkins, both of Gadsden, Randall Cannon and Forest Cannon, both of Piedmont.

Gene Futch of Douglasville, Ga., is known as Running Hawk (Creek). He was a dancer and vendor.

A procession of veterans and POWs.

Wes Hicks of Rockmart showed off authentic regalia. He is of the Chickamauga tribe.

Hicks, known as Young Deer, joins the dance.

Jesse Zavala, right, speaks with a visitor from out of state.

Mary Beth Elkins of Gadsden, far left, and Elena White of Piedmont (Yaqui) dance.

A bone carving wrapped in fur.

Mary Beth Elkins of Gadsden (Creek/Cherokee) dances.

The powwow culminated in the traditional hoop dance.

Photos copyrighted by the photographer. Please contact Al Harris for permission for commercial use. Share your best photos with the JSU community online by sending them to alharris@jsu.edu.

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