Submitted on behalf of the Friends of Ganondagan & Peter Jemison | June 9, 2026
A production by G. Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan) and Plasticiens Volants
Choreography by William Crouse Sr. (Seneca, Hawk Clan)
With performances by Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater
Produced by Sonia Kozlova Clark, Unicycle Productions and Plasticiens Volants
Presented by Friends of Ganondagan under the direction of Jeanette Jemison (Mohawk, Snipe Clan)
- Date – July 4, 2026, 4:00 PM
- Location – Seneca Nation of Indians
Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center, 82 W Hetzel
Street, Salamanca, NY 14779 - Admission – Free and open to the public
About the Production
An outdoor interactive spectacle combining a giant inflatable Turtle sculpture designed by renowned artist and culture worker G. Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan) and the monumental inflatable expertise of Plasticiens Volants, live music, dance, and Indigenous storytelling by Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater, Turtle Island transforms the Haudenosaunee Creation Story into a free public event carrying the message of peace — a message that resonates profoundly in today’s world.
Unlike conventional theater confined within buildings, Turtle Island unfolds directly within the public realm. The monumental Turtle inflatable drifts above audiences while Haudenosaunee dancers, storytellers, and musicians guide audiences through the Creation Story — the story of Skywoman, her descendants the twins, the animals, and the formation of Turtle Island itself.
Turtle Island reflects a growing international movement toward artistic work created specifically for public space — accessible, communal, and deeply connected to the environments and communities in which it is presented. By presenting an Indigenous creation story in shared civic spaces, Turtle Island affirms that public art is not simply entertainment, but a form of cultural gathering and civic dialogue.
In Their Own Words
“I would like to thank the Onöhsagwë:de’ Cultural Center for hosting the Turtle Island Performance – sharing the Message of Peace, foundational to our Creation Story.”
“While other humans in the world focused on great monuments of stone, the Haudenosaunee began with our human nature and the importance of the message of peace. This struggle of the destructive and positive life forces has been with us since the beginning. It is in our human nature to find the balance between these two opposing forces. The Creation Story teaches us this. It is my desire through the Turtle Island performance to remind us of these forces and reinforce the importance of the message of peace.”
— G. Peter Jemison, Creator and Cultural Advisor
“These songs have been passed down generation to generation within the families of our Iroquois communities, and they are the songs referred to as Ohwǫjagehká, or dances of the earth. We use them as social dances when we gather, usually during the evenings of our ceremonies in our longhouses across Iroquoia, and we are honored to share them with the public.”
— William Crouse Sr. (Seneca, Hawk Clan), Choreographer
About the Artists
G. Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan; b. 1945) | Visual Artist and Cultural Advisor
A seminal figure in Native American arts, Jemison’s work is represented in major collections including the Museum of Modern Art, the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Carniegie Museum of Art, and the Denver Art Museum. His paintings, videos, and mixed media embody Orenda, the Haudenosaunee belief in the spiritual force that animates all life. As a curator, administrator, and cultural leader, Jemison has shaped Indigenous representation in contemporary art for decades. This collaboration extends his vision into the realm of public space, where his work can reach new, large-scale audiences.
William Crouse Sr. (Seneca, Hawk Clan) | Choreographer and Director, Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater – A faithkeeper, singer, and speaker of the Coldspring Longhouse, Crouse is a culture bearer, singer, lecturer, dancer, and founder of Skywoman Iroquois Dance Theater. As group leader with the Allegany River Seneca Dancers, he has performed throughout the United States and Canada, with international engagements in Rome, Italy, and Würzburg, Germany.
Plasticiens Volants & Air-Fabric, France | Stage Director and Inflatable Art
For over 50 years, Plasticiens Volants has transformed skies into canvases for poetic storytelling with giant inflatable sculptures. With Air-Fabric, their fabrication studio dedicated to monumental inflatable design, the company collaborates directly with artists, curators, and institutions to craft flying, fixed, or carried sculptures that elevate artistic work into new dimensions — museum plazas, public parks, and even entire cityscapes.
Turtle Island Video: Created by, Ansley Jemison (Seneca, Wolf Clan)
Images: Press Images and Media Folder (photo credit: Alex Hamer Photography)
Press Contact: Sonia Kozlova Clark, Unicycle Productions, LLC
unicycleproductions@gmail.com | 917-685-7853
