From: Robert "Many Hawks" Foy (Lakota, born Pine Ridge) 501-337-0770, asaria@ipa.net A gathering of the Caddo on their home land is happening in Malvern AR on Sept 23, 2000. According to their historian Stacy Half Moon this will be the first time in over 106 yrs. There will be an all night Pow Wow. When asked why it has been so long, Shirley Howery said "We weren't invited" Many Hawks, backed by the local Civitan group, invited them. There is a feature article in today's Arkansas Democrat Gazette. See: http://www.ardemgaz.com/search_today/ark/b9xindians17.html This is part of an ongoing mission to find a resting place for many Caddo bones, starting with public awareness. There is also a desire to create a local reservation (currently all Caddo are exiled to Oklahoma) and cultural center. === [from Lona. Thanks!] http://www.ardemgaz.com/today/ark/B9xindians17.html The Caddo to powwow in Malvern RODNEY BOWERS ARKANSAS DEMOCRAT-GAZETTE MALVERN -- It took nearly two centuries, but the Caddo Indians are finally returning home -- at least for a visit. Shirley Howery of the Caddo Tribe of Binger, Okla., said 75 members, "if not more," plan to return to Malvern for a powwow from Saturday to Sept. 24 at the Hot Spring County Fairgrounds off U.S. 270. "We've never been invited," she said of the reason the group has waited so long to return to western Arkansas. "We were run off from there. We had to be invited back." Robert Many Hawks owns Many Hawks Trading Co. in nearby Rockport. A half Lakota Sioux who grew up on a reservation at Pine Ridge, S.D., he said he recently spoke to the Malvern Civitan Club and historical society and mentioned his desire to have the Caddo return for a powwow in a couple of years. "They said, 'Could we do it this year?' " Many Hawks said. "They gave me two weeks to put it together." Many Hawks said he wanted the Caddo to return because "this is their home" and he had grown tired of reading and hearing about other groups, to the exclusion of his people. And, he said, "I just want people to wake up to the fact that Native Americans are out here, too." The Caddo were a loose confederation of Indian groups joined by a common language and way of life, according to a history compiled by the Museum of the Red River in Idabel, Okla. Their distinctive cultural traits have been identified at sites dating to about A.D. 900, when they occupied an area that includes present-day western Arkansas, eastern Oklahoma, northeast Texas and northwest Louisiana. By the year 1000 the Caddo were settled farmers living in small groups, probably made up of extended families, according to the museum history. Their house clusters were scattered along low terraces bordering watercourses and their dwellings were constructed of grass or reed thatch over a framework of sticks and poles, surrounded by patches of corn, beans, squash and other vegetables. They supplemented their diet by hunting a variety of game, including birds and deer. Their population continued to grow and by the time of European contact in 1542 with during Hernando De Soto's expedition there was estimated to have been close to 20,000. After the United States purchased the Louisiana Territory in 1803, the Caddo became victims of U.S. politics and the interests of Spanish Mexico and the Texas independence movement, according to museum literature. Many Hawks, however, blames the American president at the time. "They were taken out of here by Andy Jackson," he said. After moving to Louisiana, the Caddo relocated to the Brazos River area of Texas, the museum stated in its history of the tribe. However, in 1837, one year after Texas won its independence, they were sent to live with distant relations (the Wichita) in Oklahoma Indian Territory. Today, about 4,000 Caddo still reside in western Oklahoma between Oklahoma City and Fort Sill. Many Hawks said the tribe was first settled on 40 acres, noting, "There wasn't much left of Oklahoma." Today, they share about 160 acres with two other tribes. Howery said she and the other tribe members are excited about returning to Arkansas, noting that they have been returning for several years to Louisiana. The group plans to perform traditional dances throughout the night and into the next morning, concluding with the sunrise dance. She said dancers will wear authentic costumes, and the public will be invited to participate. Festivities begin at noon with arts and crafts displays. Dancing starts at 6 p.m. Many Hawks said admission will be charged: $25 per family, or $10 for adults and $3 for children younger than 13. Proceeds will go to the Civitan Club. He, too, said he's excited about the return of the Caddo. "It's like a homecoming," he said. "Next year I'd like to get it for three or four days." --- This article was published on Sunday, September 17, 2000 [In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. section 107, this material is distributed without profit or payment to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving this information for non-profit research and educational purposes only.]