The Adai Caddo Indian Nation hosted its 28th Annual Powwow on October 17, 2026, in Robeline, Natchitoches Parish. The powwow is the largest festival held in Robeline, drawing thousands of visitors from across the United States and from as far away as France and Spain.
“We have held powwows since the early 1990s,” said John Mark Davis, Chief of the Adai Caddo Indian Nation. “Powwows honor our ancestors and our way of life. We celebrate these traditions and share our heritage through music, dance, crafts, and traditional food. This year’s powwow was a great success, and we are honored to continue hosting the oldest powwow in Natchitoches Parish.”
Father Louis Sklar presided over the blessing of the grounds at the Adai Caddo Cultural Center before Arena Director Roland Thompson commenced the opening ceremonies. Representatives from more than ten tribes attended this year’s gathering.
The Adai Caddo are an Indigenous tribe of Louisiana and Texas whose history is closely intertwined with the creation of both states. The Adai were the hosts and eponyms of the first two Catholic missions established in what is now Louisiana and of the Spanish presidio of Los Adaes, which became the first capital of Spanish Texas. Today, the site is preserved as Los Adaes State Historic Site near Robeline. “Los Adaes,” the Spanish name for the Adai, became the name used for the Spanish missions, presidio, and settlement established among the Adai people.
The El Camino Real de los Tejas developed from centuries-old Indigenous trails connecting Adai and other Native communities across present-day Texas and Louisiana. The larger network eventually linked Mexico City with Nacogdoches, Los Adaes, and Natchitoches. Today, Louisiana Highway 6 generally follows the eastern portion of this historic route. The Adai are the founders of Nacogdoches, the oldest town in Texas.
During the Natchez Rebellion of the 1730s, the Adai participated in the defense of Natchitoches. Adai headman Dachiacoin led hundreds of Caddo warriors in battle alongside the French and Spanish, helping defend the settlement that is today recognized as the oldest permanent European settlement in Louisiana. The Adai Caddo are the last remaining Caddo tribe in the state.
The powwow was held at the Adai Caddo Cultural Center, approximately five miles north of Los Adaes. The tribe’s 80-acre complex includes a museum, cultural facilities, and ceremonial grounds. Free and open to the public, the family-friendly powwow featured arts and crafts vendors, traditional foods, musicians, and dancers from across the country.
During the gathering, Tribal Councilman At-Large Robert Brevelle received the Chief Rufus Joseph Davis Jr. Award, the highest honor bestowed by the Adai Caddo Indian Nation. Named in memory of the late Chief Rufus Joseph Davis Jr., the award recognizes individuals whose extraordinary and selfless service has contributed to the protection and advancement of the tribe, its people, and its legacy.
Paul Vercher and Joshua Toby received the Tribal Council Award for their outstanding leadership, volunteerism, and service to the tribe. Saphira McGullion was crowned Adai Caddo Princess by the Council of Elders, and she will represent the tribe at powwows, festivals, and other events.
The annual powwow continues a tradition that brings together generations of Adai Caddo families while welcoming visitors to experience t he tribe’s living culture and heritage. To learn more about the powwow and other Adai Caddo events, please visit https://adaicaddo.com