The United Houma Nation holds its annual powwow this weekend in Houma, and the public is invited.

Why it matters: The event offers an opportunity to learn more about the tribe that has deep historical and cultural roots in southeast Louisiana.

The big picture: The powwow is free and is inside the air-conditioned Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center.

• The event will have traditional song and dance performances along with native craft, art and food vendors.
• About 10,000 people are expected to attend, says Jared Crosby, the chairperson of the powwow.

Zoom in: The grand entry will be the best time to see all the dancers, Crosby says.

• They'll do it twice on Saturday (1pm and 7pm) and once on Sunday (1pm). There are also are various categories in which the dancers compete for prize money.
• The dancers are from multiple tribes across the country.
• "The powwow world, it's kind of similar to the rodeo circuit, where every weekend across the country, there's a dance going on," Crosby said, and participants travel to "show off their unique dance styles and share their traditions."
• YoungBird Singers, a Grammy-nominated drum group from Oklahoma, will also perform.

If you go: The powwow is known for its fry bread and Indian tacos, which are also sold at Jazz Fest. The United Houma Nation runs that booth too.

• Fry bread is a culturally significant flatbread that's fried.
• The Indian tacos are made with fry bread as the base and filled with meat and other toppings.
• They'll also have Southern classics like poboys.

What's next: The powwow starts at 11am Saturday and runs through Sunday afternoon. See the full schedule.

The United Houma Nation, which is the state's largest recognized tribe, continues to seek federal recognition while gearing up for the powwow.

Why it matters: Federal recognition unlocks funding, protections and land and water rights, in addition to sovereignty as a native nation.

The big picture: The process is long and complicated, Principal Chief Lora Ann Chaisson tells us.

• The Houmas have been pushing for recognition since before World War II, according to the Associated Press. They were denied in 1994 and have been appealing ever since.
• The application requires extensive historical documentation, which the nation continues to research, Chaisson says.

State of play: The United Houma Nation has 19,000 tribal citizens, according to information from the Houmas.

• The majority live in Terrebonne, Lafourche, Jefferson, St. Mary, St. Bernard and Plaquemines parishes.
• The Houma people established what is known today as the French Market in New Orleans.
• They can trace their history in the city back to 1675. Go deeper.

What's next: Chaisson said they want to move forward with a program to teach their youth the native Houma language.

• But first, they need to fix their building that was destroyed in Hurricane Ida.

Learn about the state's indigenous tourism efforts

🚢 Wanna buy a historic steamboat? The Delta Queen is on the market after its owners say they've exhausted every chance to revive the steamboat after it was bound for scrap in 2015. (Facebook)

⛳️ The long-awaited Topgolf facility in the River District has been scuttled after missed deadlines and some neighborhood opposition to the project. (The Times-Picayune 🔒)

🚮 Mayor LaToya Cantrell is being sued over the nearly $75 million trash pick-up deal she signed with Henry Consulting. IV Waste is set turn over garbage collection on Aug. 1 to Troy Henry's company. (WDSU)

• Cantrell won in court yesterday on a separate matter. A judge deemed the City Council's travel ban "unconstitutional and void." The council is set to discuss it privately at today's meeting. (WWL)

🐎 Horse racing will return to the Fair Grounds this year after a standoff between Churchill Downs and state leaders over a subsidy lawmakers declined to dole out. (WWL)

🦟 The state's first human case of West Nile virus for the year has been confirmed in Livingston Parish. (Press release and symptoms)

City Park's CEO estimates it could cost up to $400 million to implement the new master plan, which was unveiled yesterday.

Some of the big ideas...

💦 Skim pool: A shallow water feature with misters where families can play.

✨ Artistic light installations under the overpasses to make them safer and more of an attraction.

🚲 Pedestrian plaza: This would partially convert the traffic circle around NOMA into a pedestrian plaza and biking/walking path.

🛹 Wheel park for skateboarders, BMX bikers and roller skaters.

🌳 Better walking trails, scenic overlooks and lagoon crossovers.

What's next: The plan is going to take years to implement, says City Park Conservancy president and CEO Rebecca Dietz.

• The park is starting now with fixing bathrooms, water fountains and sidewalks.

See all the renderings

🐈 Try kitten yoga this morning at the East Bank Regional Library. Go deeper.

🤑 Score a $2 cinnamon roll at the grand opening of Cinnaholic at 4921 Freret St. Details.

🚤 Powerboat racing returns to Lake Pontchartrain. It's free and open to the public. There's a party tomorrow and races Saturday and Sunday. Go deeper.

🍔 Krewe du Fool hosts a Summer Salt Picnic at the Fly on Saturday. Details

💛 As if! "Clueless" turns 30, and reminds us all of how quickly time flies. Watch it at the Prytania Theatre at Canal Place in a special Sunday showing. Tickets.