THE SARATOGA NATIVE AMERICAN FESTIVAL:
The Saratoga Native American Festival, which has become one of the major highlights of the start of fall in the Saratoga Springs area will once again return to the beautiful grounds of the Saratoga State Park, Saratoga Springs, New York. The festival will begin with a traditional Opening Address delivered in Mohawk and English by Tom Sakokwenionkwas Porter,
who positions with the Mohawk Nation Council of Chiefs and is the spokesman and spiritual leader of the Mohawk community of Kanatsiohareke. The featured storytellers for the event will perform twice throughout day between dance programs. Dozens of Native American artists and craftspeople (carefully selected by Jeanne Brink (Abenaki), the coordinator of our arts and crafts area), nearly all of them from the American Indian nations of the northeast, will be displaying and selling their own work at the festival. Last year, the Vendor Tent featured the following demonstrations of such crafts as basketry, jewelry making, and carving at various booths each day of the festival:
Connie Carter (Mohawk) - finger weaving Richard Chrisjohn of Chrisjohn Arts (Oneida) wood-carving and elm bark rattles/
trays
Al Cleveland of Turtle Island Flutes (Mohawk/Cree) - process of making flutes
Andree' Dennis Newton of Andree' Dennis Newton Art (Abenaki) - totem pole carving
(viewers will be invited to try their hand in the demo)
Earl Dionnne (Mohawk) - wood burning
Russ George (Onondaga) - lacrosse stick carving
Peter Jones (Onondaga) handbuilt Iroquois pottery
Karenlyne Hill (Onondaga) - beading velvet bags
Julia Marden of Traditional Arts (Aquinnah Wampanoag) - 17th century twined
basketry
Towanna Miller (Mohawk) - kustowa creation with ash wood and turkey feathers. Jennifer Lee (Algonkian)New England Culture Tent
Among others also present in the education area will be a wide range of non-profit organizations that advocate for and educate about the environment and Native American issues including The Howes Cave Iroquois Museum, Saratoga Plan, the Ndakinna Education Center, and Kanatsiohareke. Our Children's Area (sponsored in the past by Stewart's Shop) has been one of the favorite areas in past festivals. It will again provide Native activities for children (who must be accompanied by a responsible adult), including a wide range of traditional crafts. Admission is FREE!!! Past Sponsors include: The NYS Office of Parks, Recreation, and Hric Preservation; the Bay and Paul Foundation; the Nordlys Foundation; the Adirondack Trust Company; and Stewart's Shops. The Ndakinna Education Center, an affiliate of the Greenfield Review Literary Center, is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit and charitable organization, based at the Marion F. Bowman Bruchac Memorial Nature Preserve in Greenfield Center, New York. The Center offers programs, performances, camps, field trips, and special events focusing on regional Native American understandings, Adirondack culture, martial arts, wilderness skills and awareness of the natural world. For more information:
For further information, call:
Joe Bruchac (518) 584-1728
or (518) 583-1440
