American Indian Expo back in Anadarko BY JOSH ROUSE STAFF WRITER [email protected] Despite a rocky summer, a truncated version of American Indian Exposition will endure this week in Anadarko. Entering its 81st year, the celebration has had its series of ups and downs this year — along with multiple scheduling and venue changes. Newly appointed Vice President Phillip Smith said the controversy stemmed from the previous expo administration’s attempts to remove the traditional event from Anadarko. “They decided they were going to make the move to Chickasha, where they claimed it would be better received,” he said. “Some of the tribes were not going to participate — the Caddos and Wichitas among them. They said it’s always been Anadarko and it will always be in Anadarko.” The Grady County Fairgrounds in Chickasha was willing to host the event in October simply out of courtesy. But Smith said that’s not what the tribes wanted. They balked at the proposed idea of a miniature expo in Anadarko in August and a full one in Chickasha. Smith said the previous claims that Anadarko simply wasn’t doing enough to accommodate the expo were unfounded. “But the support now has been overwhelming,” Smith said. “The City of Anadarko is working very close with us in keeping this.” Former Vice President Janis Wermy is now president. The expo is back on track in Anadarko, albeit in a smaller version this year, due to last-minute changes. “We’re going to have three days this year,” Smith said. “We’ll expand it back to its traditional time period next year. The officers now in office will be there next year, allowing us to plan longer.” The expo will officially begin Thursday with an Indian Fry Bread Competition at the Caddo County Fairgrounds. Arts and crafts and food vendors will be set up alongside a carnival for the kids and family. Smith said the grand entry will begin at 7 p.m. and will be followed by tribal dance exhibitions and a drum contest. Friday’s activities will begin with a tribal princess fashion and regalia show at 7 p.m. at the Iscani Multi-Purpose Building. The grand entry will commence at 7 p.m. at the fairgrounds. An archery tournament will begin activities Saturday at the Southern Plains Indian Museum. Registration for the annual parade will begin at 8 a.m. and registration poker run will begin at 9 a.m. The parade will begin at 10 a.m., and is estimated to last around two hours. The expo will conclude at 7 p.m. Saturday at the fairgrounds with the grand entry. “We are going to have a parade this year and it’s going to be a big one,” Smith said. “This is kind of a small expo because of everything that’s happened. But we’re going to give it our best and come back next year with an even bigger one.”
Posted on: Tue, 20 Aug 2013 23:06:46 +0000
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