The Attakapas Opelousas Prairie Tribe will hold the 4th Annual Three Moons Festival on Saturday.
The event takes place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Le Vieux Village/Farmers Market Pavilion, located in the Opelousas Tourist Center at 828 East Landry St., just off Interstate 49.
The purpose of the Three Moons Festival is to bring together tribal members, the community, and other Native American Tribes to share the tribe’s heritage, singing, dancing, and drumming as they walk the land where our ancestors once danced, walked, and sang.
The social gathering is important to the Attakapas Opelousas Prairie Tribe because it gives all the tribal members and community a chance to meet and share stories told by its ancestors.
The festival helps the tribe teach our culture and heritage to the youth of the community as well as the youth of our tribe.
There are more than 1,300 members in the Attakapas Opelousas Prairie Tribe, from Louisiana and other surrounding states. This festival allows tribal members to come together and celebrate as they return to the tribe’s original home, Opelousas.
The event will start with a grand opening by Chief Nolan Gobert, with tribal blessings led by Deputy Chief Minerva Broussard. The tribal dancers will then enter the pavilion wearing traditional clothing and led by Headman Harvey Whitford and Headlady Carolyn Whitford, followed by the Attakapas Opelousas Prairie Tribe dancers and tribal members.
Along with traditional dancing, drumming, arts & crafts, storytelling, and food, there will also be outside vendors with various products for purchase, as well as a silent auction.
Gobert grew up with traditional and cultural ways passed down from his family. He will host the festival and lead the ceremony’s opening dances. Afterwards, everyone, non-tribal members included, will be invited to join the tribe in an intertribal meet and greet dance.
“Native American Stickball, is a Native American traditional game that has been passed down from our ancestors,” Gobert said. “It will be taught by Ken Dixon of the Choctaw Tribe, so both children and adults can learn and take part in these Native traditions.”
“This is an opportunity for everyone, both adults and kids, to come out, join us, and learn something new about Attakapas culture,” Gobert said.
The Attakapas Opelousas Prairie Tribe is a Southeast tribe of indigenous people, whose descendants live in St Martinsville, Lafayette, Opelousas and the Prairies around St Landry Parish.
