WHAT IS A
POW WOW?
A long time ago, powwows were spiritual gatherings to celebrate certain community events or to honor somebody who had come back from war. Tribes would hold a dance and people would sing songs that reflected deeds done in a battle or songs carried down from their ancestors when they were fighting, such as in the American Indian wars. People come here at their own expense because they want to honor their veterans, just as Indians have honored their warriors throughout history.

WHY IS THIS EVENT HELD OVER THE SECOND WEEKEND OF OCTOBER, HONORING VETERANS?
A few miles north, in Canada, this weekend is celebrated as Thanksgiving. Long before the European peoples came to this continent, the celebrating and giving of thanks to the Creator existed for a bountiful harvest. Among the Native American Indian Community, nearly every weekend of the year around this country, people travel often hundreds of miles to attend and participate in celebrations known as Pow Wows, where Active Duty service members and Veterans are Honored on a daily basis.

Therefore with the beginnings of harvest around North America varying because of location and length of growing season The Eagle's Nest of Alabama has adopted this second weekend of October to begin the celebrations of harvest time and the sharings of harvest bounty with our Veterans and members of the Armed Forces, and thier families.

WHAT ELSE IS "SPECIAL" ABOUT THIS EVENT?
While we Honor our Veterans and Service Members and their families it is important to recognize that many Veterans are homeless and many Service Members families are in need.

In cooperation with many Wiregrass Area Veterans Service Organizations and Native American Communities, the Annual Falling Leaves Intertribal Gathering and Pow Wow is proud to kick-off the collection of non-perishable food items to aid the area's Veterans and Service Members in need!

Also planned is the kick-off of the collection on new, unwrapped toys that with the assistance of the Native American Community will be distributed to the hundreds of under privileged Native American Children. A network of Native American truck drivers is being organized to provide delivery of these toys and coordination among the Wiregrass Native American Community will assist in the selection of where the toys will be distributed to.