Tunica-Biloxi Tribe to host 27th annual pow wow in Marksville

MARKSVILLE, La. (WNTZ) – The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana will host its 27^th Annual Pow Wow on May 17 and 18, 2025, at the Chief Joseph Alcide Pierite Pow Wow Grounds on the Tunica-Biloxi Reservation in Marksville, Louisiana. This annual public event welcomes various regional indigenous tribes to come together and celebrate their shared cultures through vibrant craft displays, music performances, dance presentations and cultural exhibits. Throughout the weekend, a variety of interactive events and live performances will showcase the history and traditions of the Tribe, while also offering attendees the opportunity to learn about the cultural richness of neighboring tribes from across the region.

“The Pow Wow is an important moment for us to not only reflect on the strength and resilience of our people, but also to celebrate the shared cultural spirit of Native American communities,” said Tunica-Biloxi Chairman Marshall Pierite. “After years of successful events, we are working tirelessly to make this year’s event even more impactful. It’s a time for us to honor our accomplishments and highlight the ongoing contributions of all indigenous tribes. The success of one tribe is a victory for all of us as we continue to pass down our rich traditions.”

This year’s event will feature a wide array of performances, including the Tunica-Biloxi Singers & Legend Keepers, AC Woodlands Singers, Buc Wild Singers, Thunder Boy Singers, and Medicine Tail Singers. Dance competitions will be held for participants from ages 6 to 55+, and dancers can pre-register for the event by May 14, 2025. The Pow Wow will also host over 30 food and craft vendors, offering traditional foods, indigenous arts, jewelry, and handmade crafts. Vendors interested in participating are encouraged to contact Babette Bordelon – babette.bordelon@tunica.org or Paulette Voiselle – pvoiselle@tunica.org.

In addition to the Pow Wow celebrations, the Tribe will host a free Education Day on Friday, May 16, 2025, with two presentations at 9:00 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. at the Tunica-Biloxi Gymnasium. Education Day is designed to give local children and school groups a hands-on opportunity to learn about Native American culture through Pow Wow dance demonstrations, Tunica-Biloxi storytelling, flute music, and interactive cultural exhibits. For more information, contact Elisabeth Pierite-Mora at emora@tunica.org or (318) 240-6432.

General Admission for the 2025 Pow Wow is $8.00 for adults and children over five years of age and $5.00 for children under the age of five. Registered dancers will be admitted with assigned numbers. Hotel reservations at Paragon Casino Resort are welcome by direct phone call to our special group reservations number at Paragon Casino Resort reservations office (800) 642-7777and/or fax to (318) 240-6601. Rate code: TBP15GR

For more information on the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/.

About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana

The Tunica-Biloxi people first appeared in the Mississippi Valley. In the late 1700s, they settled near south of Marksville in east-central Louisiana. Today, the Tribe has more than 1,600 members throughout the United States, primarily in Louisiana, Texas, and Illinois. The modern Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is composed of Tunica, Biloxi (a Siouan-speaking people from the Gulf coast), Ofo (also a Siouan people), Avoyel (a Natchezan people), and Choctaw. Although ancestry is typically intermixed through marriages, tribal members typically identify either as Tunica, Biloxi or Biloxi-Choctaw. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana, visit https://www.tunicabiloxi.org/ and “like” us on Facebook.