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In the language of his grandmother, Tom Hendrix described the fourth annual Return to Coldwater Festival — Ishatae.

"It means a very special day," said Hendrix regarding the event which was held on September 12 and 13. "The language she spoke was Euchee."

Oka Kapassa, or the Return to Coldwater, was held in Spring Park in Tuscumbia in Colbert County. The Big Spring site within the park is regarded as the source of the cold water for which the Indian settlement was named.

The gathering included members from more than a dozen Native American tribes including Alabama, Cherokee, Chickasaw, Choctaw, Coushatta, Creek, Euchee, Miami, Muscogee, Navajo, Quechua, Seminole and Shoshone.

The two-day event featured artists, demonstrators and dancers from across the country. More than 6,000 people turned out to enjoy Saturday’s events.

According to Hendrix, Friday, Sept. 12, was considered school day. Approximately 700 students from the Shoals area attended a special day geared toward education.

Kenzie Fowler at Coldwater in Tuscumbia’s Spring Park. Kenzie’s mother, Kristen, is of the Choctaw and Seminole tribes. Kristen served as the model for the Sacred Tears statue in the Park.

Tom Hendrix with Bexar Community farmer Chip Enlow.

Hendrix explained that teaching our children about their heritage is vital.

"If the stories fall silent, who will teach the children," he said. "We all have to do our part."

Saturday’s events were free and open to the public.

Hendrix said one of the highlights of the festival occurred at dusk on Saturday. There was a ceremonial torch lighting from canoes around Big Spring.

Next year’s festival will be held during the second weekend of September. Hendrix invites everyone to make plans to attend.

Artists and Demonstrators

Many artists came to share their crafts and talents with the public. Following is a brief description of some of the exhibits. The descriptions were provided by the festival organizers.

• David Eveningthunder is a self-taught contemporary Native American artist. He traces his heritage to the Lamhi Band of the Shoshone Nation and is an enrolled member of the Shoshone-Bannock Tribes.

David paints and draws in an array of media specializing in portrayals of contemporary American Indian powwow dancers.

David has been recognized as one of the premier Native American artists now for over 30 years, winning numerous awards and Best of Show at Native American festivals throughout the U.S.

• Noel Grayson is a member of the Western Band of Cherokee Indians and lives in Talequah, Oklahoma. Noel has been one of the premier native flintknappers in Oklahoma and is also a part of a widely popular Southeastern Indian Hunter’s Camp circa 1700-1800.

He especially enjoys sharing with children his knowledge of how the Indians lived off-the-land using primitive techniques to teach.

• Lyndon Alec lives in Livingston, Texas, on the Alabama-Coushatta Indian Reservation and is one of the few remaining Alabama Indians.

Lyndon is a premier hoop dancer who has performed in England and Australia, and was featured in the opening of the Goodwill Games in Russia. The hoop dance is the most difficult of all Native American dances.

• The Alabama-Coushatta Dance Troupe is considered to be one of the best dance troupes in the Southeast. Dances include fancy shawl dance, jingle dance, eagle dance, butterfly dance, grass dance and Southern shawl dance. The troupe has won various awards at powwows across the U.S.

Lyndon Alec is a hoop dancer. He is one of a few remaining members of the Alabama Indian tribe.

Noel Grayson enjoys teaching children how his ancestors lived off-the-land.

His second album, "Midnight," was a 2002 Native American Music Award nominee. He has won numerous ADDY awards for production pieces and dance performances.

• Freeman Owle tells traditional Cherokee stories, carves wood and stone, and talks about Cherokee culture and history. He is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians.

Freeman grew up in the Birdtown community where he learned to carve at an early age. He is a master storyteller, stonecarver and serves on the Board of Directors of the Qualla Arts and Crafts Guild in North Carolina.

• Norma Pinney is half-Creek from Pawhuska, Oklahoma, and is an expert archer. Norma enjoys teaching how to brain-tan deer skin, and how to make moccasins, belts, obsidian knives, colorful bows and rivercane arrows.

She has won the Creek Nation Festival women’s division and Oklahoma state title in archery.

When she can, she loves to bowfish and took the Oklahoma state record for bowfishing with a 97-pound paddlefish.

Norma also speaks some of the Creek language and understands it when she hears it spoken. She loves to share with children Native techniques for living-off-the-land.

• Niles Aseret, originally from Arizona, is a full-blooded Navajo who currently resides in Murfreesboro, Tennessee.

Niles is one of the premier Navajo silversmiths who creates unique and one-of-a-kind jewelry. He incorporates into his work beautiful native stones, especially turquoise.

His work is highly sought after and has won various awards throughout the U.S. His work is both traditional and contemporary and also has original-designed beadwork.

• Wanda Sylestine is a member of the Coushatta (Koasati) tribe of Elton, Louisiana. She is recognized as the premier pine needle basketmaker in the 500 Nations. The Smithsonian Institute has recorded on film the crafting of her ancient art.

Contact Information

For more information about next year’s Return to Coldwater Festival, you may call festival chairman Terry McGee at (256) 757-4438.

You may also contact the Colbert County Tourism and Convention Bureau by calling 800-344-0783.