Smithsonian To Hold Festival Of Choctaw Food, Arts

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is holding a four-day festival to feature the music, dance, food and art of the Choctaw Nation of Oklahoma on the National Mall.

The festival runs Wednesday through Saturday. Each day begins with traditional dancing, followed by presentations by artisans and storytellers in the museum's atrium.

Short films will be screened each day, featuring Choctaw code talkers of World War I and other stories.

Activities for children will include grinding corn, weaving baskets, making clay pots and stringing beads for a necklace.

Food demonstrations will be held Wednesday and Saturday. The museum's Mitsitam Cafe will feature items such as fried rabbit, braised venison and fried salt pork.

On Saturday, there will be a theatrical reenactment of a traditional Choctaw wedding.

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