Spectators are invited to experience the rich culture and traditions of the Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana during its 2nd annual Koasati Heritage Day.

The family-friendly event will be held 10 a.m.- 2 p.m.. Wednesday, Nov. 8  in the Coushatta conference center ballroom at the Coushatta Casino Resort, 777 Coushatta Drive, in Kinder.

The celebration is part of Native American Month which will spotlight the Coushatta Tribe with fancy footwork, beaded regalia and the heart-pounding rhythm of native drums.

“Native American communities face ongoing challenges in preserving and promoting their cultural traditions and languages,” tribal spokesperson Felicia Russell Perez said. “Events like the Koasati Heritage Day, not only offer a celebration of their heritage but also raise funds that directly benefit their community.”

Funds raised during the event will help send tribal students to college, ensuring a brighter future and the continuity of their traditions, she said.

“This is a chance for everyone to learn about the Coushatta Tribe traditions that make us who we are,” Janie Fisher said.

Fisher, who grew up in a traditional Coushatta Tribe home and has been dancing since age 5, is excited to share her heritage with the public. She is also passing those traditions down to her own 4-year-old son.

“I know that my culture is so important to me and I want others to see just how much it means to us especially as a small nation,” Fisher said. “This is our chance to raise awareness about the importance of preserving Native American culture and showcasing the richness and depth of Coushatta Tribe traditions.”

During the four-hour event, Fisher and other Coushatta Tribe members will be showcasing and sharing the food, music, artwork and culture which have been a part of the Coushatta history for centuries.

Event highlights include flute and drum performances and basket weaving and beading demonstrations. Traditional dance performances will be held every hour.

Spectators will also be able to savor the deliciousness of traditional fry bread and the mouth-watering Coushatta cuisine including chawahka (corn soup).

Stickball will also be showcased as one of the traditional sports and tribal members will show how plants were used by tribal elders for herbs and medicines

Spectators will also have the opportunity to meet with the tribal princesses and tribal leaders, experience storytelling and hear the Coushatta language spoken.

“This day is so important because these are Coushatta cultural traditions that we will be showing,” Fisher said. “These are the traditions that we have been able to hold on to for this long despite going through everything we had to go through like all Native Americans tribes. We have been able to keep these things to this day.

Like many Native American tribes, Fisher said the Coushatta Tribe have seen a lot of their traditions fade away.

“It’s really hard and important to preserve the pieces that we do have with us,” she said.  “Any little thing that separates us as a nation is the most important.”

Spectators will be able to walk through, learn and talk to the demonstrators, Fisher said.

Fisher, who self taught herself to do beadwork, will be among those showing her talents.

“I’m really excited about demonstrating,” she said. “It will be nice to show people the process of how to do the beadwork because it’s so intricate. You really have to take your time, pick up the tiny beads and really focus on that. I want to be able to share that with people and show them how it is done.”

Fisher plans to start and finish a beadwork project by the end of the day to allow people to see the progression in real time.

“We don’t have many opportunities to display our traditions in this way, so I’d like to see as many people as we can while we are having this event,” Fisher said  “It’s family-friendly, so we’d love to see everyone with their kids out there. We are hoping we can get schools to come out and visit that day.”

She also hopes that those who attend will take away an appreciation for the tribe.

“I hope that everyone who attends takes away the fact that even though we are a small tribe we are still very relevant,” she said. “We have persevered and it boils down to being more about our traditions and who we are as a community. At the end of the day it’s about the traditions. It’s about the culture.”