Ready for homecoming: Marquita Young (left) and Vicki Rainbolt are seen here in authentic Native American clothing. Rainbolt, spokesperson for the Native American Foundation of Western Indiana, said Native Americans believe Montezuma is the perfect place to bridge the culture gaps among people. (Tribune-Star photo/Bob Poynter)

The president of the Montezuma Village Council pledges that the village will "donate a helping hand" when Native Americans from seven nations meet in Montezuma to demonstrate their crafts and dances during the annual Covered Bridge Festival.

"We'll block off some of the streets for their tents and functions," Bill Crockett, council president, said.

The activity, the Native American Gathering of the People, will take place on a vacant lot facing U.S. 36 at the corner of Crawford and Washington streets, a short distance east of the bridge over the Wabash River.

Penny Cox of Montezuma, a leader in obtaining the event for Montezuma, said planning for it has been in progress for "about a year."

"We just didn't have enough time to do it for last year's festival," she said.

Working closely with Vicki Rainbolt of Brazil, Cox believes there will be about 18 vendors during the festival with Native American crafts. A couple of the vendors will only be able to be there for one weekend, Rainbolt said.

The 1999 gathering of the Native Americans in Montezuma could be the start of something big in the future.

Rainbolt pointed to the Native American lore and heritage of the Montezuma area.

"If we can get the town behind us, what we would like to do is build a cultural center where we could have a spring pow-wow as well as the Covered Bridge functions," Rainbolt said.

The purpose of the Native American Gathering of the People, Rainbolt said, is to educate the public on the history and culture of Native Americans.

"There are so many people who don't know or don't realize or understand our culture is not the one portrayed by Hollywood," she said.

One of two Native American reservations in Indiana was in an area bordered by Sugar Creek and Raccoon Creek in Reserve Township, Rainbolt said.

Rainbolt also pointed out that a Native American cultural center in Montezuma would be a natural tourist attraction because of its historical connection with Native Americans.

"In the 1700s, the site of Montezuma was the location of Wea Indian trading village," she said.

Although many of the Montezuma residents said they hadn't heard of the plans for the Native Americans during the Covered Bridge Festival, they all professed interest and a warm welcome.

For the past three years, the gathering has been at Fallen Rock Park, Rainbolt said.