TIFTON — The Georgia Museum of Agriculture recently hosted the Native American Experience for people to find out what a day in the life of a Muskogee native would be like. 

For two days, Native Americans set up different booths so that people could walk around and discover different aspects of their daily life.

“I enjoyed seeing the culture and the life styles of the Muskogee,” said Jana Register, who attended the Saturday, Nov. 18 event. “We have a lot to learn from them.”

On Friday, Nov. 17, the GMA hosted elementary school-aged students. The students came on a field trip and were able to have more time to be taught about what life would have been like when the Muskogee tribe occupied this part of the state. On Saturday, the museum village area was opened to the public to come participate in the event.

This is the fifth year the GMA has hosted the Native American Experience. This is the first year the Muskogee tribe participated.

One of the booths had primitive arrows and spear heads and a class on how to make a fire by rubbing sticks together and using a bow saw.

“This coincides with what curriculum the children are learning in school,” said GMA Director Garrett Boone. “Most schools [are] studying Native American history.”

After learning about Native Americans in school, children are able to come and reinforce what they have learned in class.

In one of the booths, a member of the Muskogee tribe was demonstrating the weapons used by Native Americans. Weapons such as a bow and arrow, blow dart guns, and atlatls were available for people to try out. Guests who found a natural talent with one of these weapons could purchase their own.

Throughout the day, the Muskogee Natives taught children to dance like a Muskogee. During each dance they taught the crowd words like yes, no, I understand, and how to count from one to 10. Children were encouraged to participate and sing along.

During the dance a member of the tribe explained to the audience an experience he had at another event.

“A little boy once told me that all the Indians and Native Americans were dead, and were no longer around today,” he said. “This made each of us very sad as we stood in front of him. We want people to know Native Americans are alive today and preserving the culture.”