Celebrating History through Music, Art, and Food
VICTOR, N.Y.– Ganondagan held their annual Indigenous Music and Arts Festival last weekend, July 22 and 23. It was a beautiful weekend to see dancing, listen to music, and see all the art.
The event showcased Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures through activities including dance, music, crafts, raffles, food, and more. Bring your own shirt screen printing was back at this years event. Attendees brought their own 100% cotton shirts and for $10 Lake Ontario Press was printing “Limited Edition” Pete Jemison’s “Messenger Bird” artwork on them. Guests also had a chance to tour the Wampum/OTGOÄ Exhibition in the Seneca Art & Culture Center.
This year’s festival featured Native folk-rock band December Wind, led by two-time Native American Music Award winning artist, Atsiaktonkie (Mohawk) accompanied by bass guitarist, Terry Terrance (Mohawk), play acoustic folk-rock infused with their Akwesasne/Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) culture. Their songs are filled with stories of love, hope, the struggles of native peoples and the beauty of their heritage. Hoop dance performers the Sinquah Family Dance Troupe (Hopi/Tewa/Choctaw) are World Champion Hoop Dancers each in their own right, were a delight for the entire family. Also featured were storytellers Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) and Tonia Galban (Mohawk), and the crowd favorite – Haudenosaunee social dancers of Indigenous Spirit Dancers.
Ansley Jemison (Seneca, Wolf Clan – Pictured above) who is the Cultural Liaison at Ganondagan was set up at the festival broadcasting live w/his Original Peoples Podcast. Here are just a few of the interviews he did:
• https://fb.watch/l-SShPePoK/ – Broadcast w/Cliff Redeye
• https://fb.watch/l-SIR9T5Um/ – Broadcast with Marty Jimerson Jr. & Marty Jimerson III
• https://fb.watch/l-SMZAJSSU/ – Broadcast w/Jocelyn Jones
Check out Ganondagan State Historic Site Facebook Page for all the live podcast footage. Also, check out Ansley’s Original Peoples Podcast at: https://podcasts.apple.com/.
