The Iroquois Museum in Howes Cave will host the 42nd Annual Iroquois Arts Festival on August 30 and 31 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
The event celebrates Haudenosaunee creativity through dance, storytelling, and an art market featuring both traditional and contemporary works by Iroquois artists.
The Haudenosaunee, also known as the Iroquois, are an Indigenous people of North America whose name means “People of the Longhouse.” They formed a confederacy of six nations — the Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, and Tuscarora — whose traditional territory once stretched from the Schoharie Creek through the Mohawk Valley to the Genesee River. Their history in the region spans centuries, with oral tradition dating the Confederacy’s founding to more than a thousand years ago.
This year’s festival features The Sky Dancers from Six Nations Reserve in Ontario performing traditional social dances. Visitors may be invited to join in on the dance floor. Onondaga storyteller Perry Ground guide the audience through dramatic tales of daring feats and adventures.
Additionally, Wildlife rehabilitator Kelly Martin will discuss regional conservation and present native animals, including birds of prey. The museum’s archaeology department will help identify artifacts and demonstrate early technologies such as flintknapping.
The Iroquois Arts Festival also includes a family activity area with hands-on crafts and food vendors throughout the weekend. Get more info on the event on the museum website.
Get the rest of your festival news here on NYS Music.
Watch below the Iroqouis Sky Dancers perform the “Fluff Dance.”
Comments are closed.