NATCHEZ — More than 300 scouts unplugged their Nintendo DS and iPods this weekend to reconnect with the power of the Sun God, the sounds of the earth, the sight of the human spirit and the taste of funnel cake at Saturday’s 24th annual Natchez Powwow.

The event, which continues today at the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians at 400 Jefferson Davis Blvd., drew people from all over the country, founder Dr. Charles Borum said, including the camporee bunch of troops from across the state.

Native Americans dressed in colorful, fringy costumes sauntered around a circle in traditional Native-American dances throughout the day and belted out guttural sounds in unison to the steady beat of drums.

Natchez Cub Scout Pack 168 troop leader Shana Hargon and her troop were set up beyond the stick ball course, along with troops from Jackson, Brookhaven, Florence, McComb and more.

As live Indian sounds came through the trees, Hargon and her troop stayed at the campsite and enjoyed an old fashioned game of charades.

“We have a rule — no electronics. And they never miss it,” Hargon said.

While trying to get the hang of walking on sticks at the campsite, 10-year-old Bruce Smith of Boy Scout Troop 450 of Brookhaven, talked about indigenous culture he encountered at the powwow.

“I learned about their way of life — it’s interesting,” Smith said.

“They used bones for rakes.”

Smith watched his fellow scouts play an old fashioned game that involved two scouts facing each other while sitting on a wide pipe and hitting each other with pillows. Whoever fell in the hay pile beneath them first was the loser.

“That gets the anger out don’t it,” Smith said.

But of all the games and crafts that weekend, Smith said just watching the dancing and singing was his favorite activity.

Borum said he fist encountered Native American culture when he was a boy scout, himself. When he got a little older, he and friends would travel to attend similar powwows in the Carolinas, Oklahoma and other places before Borum brought the tradition back home to Natchez.

After the first year, when the powwow was located at the city fair grounds near Natchez High School, the Grand Village of the Natchez Indians came on board and began hosting it there.

Jim Barnett, director of Grand Village, said the weather couldn’t have been better Saturday and he predicted a turnout of nearly 4,000 over the weekend.

“It’s a unique event and a chance to come to a real American Indian site where Natchez Indians danced and held ceremonies,” Barnett said.

“And it’s a chance to see (the Native Americans dance again) live at the powwow.”

While many who attended participated and had Native American roots, a majority of attendees just soaked up the sun and enjoyed the dose of authentic, colorful culture.

“It’s a family event,” Barnett said.

Borum said he reconnected with old friends Saturday, as he does each year at powwow season.

“It’s sort of like a tail gate party,” Borum said, noting there were, after all, hard core stick ball games at the Grand Village all weekend.

While Borum and Barnett said the powwow is a family event, powwow regular Brandon McCranie said the powwow also creates a family of its own.

McCranie said he’s seen some of the same out-of-towners at the powwow for more than a decade. One such family was a husband and his pregnant wife one year. And 15 years later, the family now has three children who trek to the Natchez powwow each year.

“It’s like a whole powwow family that gets together once a year,” McCranie said.

For those who aren’t yet part of the powwow family, organizers suggest packing lawn chairs or blankets.

The event is $5 for adults and $3 for children, and part of the proceeds go to the local Veterans of Foreign Wars.

Gourd dancing begins at 1 p.m. today followed by the grand entry and intertribal dancing at 2 p.m.