MARKSVILLE, La. (April 30, 2012) – The Tunica-Biloxi tribe welcomes the The Grayhawk Band from New Orleans to perform at the 17th annual Pow Wow celebration on Saturday, May 19 at 11 a.m. and 6:15 p.m.. The celebration takes place at the Chief Joseph “Alcide” Pierite Pow Wow Grounds on the Tunica-Biloxi Reservation in Marksville on May 18-20. The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe of Louisiana and Paragon Casino Resort will host the cultural festivities, filled with authentic food, arts and crafts, dancing, singing and more.



The Grayhawk Band from New Orleans is a four-piece combo that offers a unique blend of original blues, funk and jazz fused with tribal rhythms/themes that create a style of “tribal funk” all of their own. The Grayhawk Band has performed at many Louisiana music events such as the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, International Fest and Bayou Boogaloo to name a few.



Grayhawk Perkins, a New Orleans-born Native American (Choctaw and Houma Indian) is a well known cultural figure in Louisiana. In addition to performing music, he is also an educator, historian, ‘tribal storyteller’ and recognized as an expert on Native American and American Colonial history.



Hawk Henries, a member of the Chabuna-gungamaug band of the Nipmunk nation, is not only an accomplished musician, but a crafted artisan that makes eastern woodland flutes by hand. Each flute he creates in made from a single piece of wood only using hand tools and fire. He often teaches the art of flute making with adults and children. Henries is returning to Pow Wow again this year with his hand crafted wooden flutes and will perform Friday, May 18 at 6:30 p.m. and Saturday, May 19 at 5:30 p.m. at the Pow Wow grounds..



Pow Wow is open to the general public and daily admission is $5. The fee for children 5 and younger is $2. Spectators will be treated to other performances by flutist, Hawk Henries and the Tunica-Biloxi Legend Keepers. Over 40 food and crafts will also be available for guests. Parking is available near the Pow Wow grounds and at Paragon Casino Resort.



Be sure to schedule some time to visit the new Cultural & Educational Resources Center that houses the Tunica-Biloxi Museum. The brand new 40,000 square foot museum will house the largest collection of European and Native American artifacts from the Colonial period. The museum will have Tunica Treasures artifacts on display and will also house traveling exhibits in the future. Museum hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Sunday 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Admission prices: Adults: $5, Children: (9-12) $3, Children: (8-under) Free with purchase of adult admission (Does not apply to children in groups), Seniors: (65 +)/Military: (with ID) $4, Members of CERC: Free.



For more information about the Tunica-Biloxi Pow Wow, please visit www.tunicapowwow.org or call 1-800-946-1946 extension 2016 for more information about other upcoming events at Paragon Casino Resort please visit www.paragoncasinoresort.com. Be sure to follow Paragon Casino Resort on Facebook and Twitter.



About the Tunica-Biloxi Tribe

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe is a federally recognized tribe with a reservation within the boundaries of Louisiana. The tribe owns and operates the Paragon Casino Resort, the largest employer in Central Louisiana. Earl J. Barbry, Sr. was elected Tribal Chairman in 1978 and was appointed as Tribal Administrator the same year. He has implemented many positive changes within the tribe and the Marksville community.

The tribe also runs the Tunica-Biloxi Indian Political Action Committee (TBIPAC) that helps state and national legislators understand the importance of the tribe and the role it can play in the economic well-being of the state and its citizens.

The Tunica-Biloxi Tribe has donated over $3,000,000 since 1994 to various non-profit organizations on the local, regional and national level. In addition to monetary contributions, Paragon Casino Resort employees have also volunteered their time and talents to local community organizations.