ST. LANDRY PARISH — The Canneci Tinne Apache Tribe—part of the Lipan Apache (Ndáwe) Nation—will present the Xactci (pronounced Hahch-kee) ceremonial dance on Saturday at the Opelousas Museum. Tribal leaders say the dance is a spiritual tradition rooted in protection, healing, and the clearing of negative energy.

Chief Cougar Goodbear has spent years working to restore the ancient ceremony. He credits support from the Opelousas Interpretive Museum for helping bring the dance back to life.

“The Canneci Tinne Apache Tribe is going to revitalize our ceremonial dance — the Xactci dance,” Goodbear said. Although the tribe practices multiple forms of dance, the Xactci ritual is considered one of their most sacred. It hasn’t been performed publicly since the 1800s, when the U.S. government ban

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