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Ganondagan Indigenous Music & Arts Festival. July 23 & 24, 2022. Image of Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle in traditional regalia, Bill Crouse in Haudenosaunee regalia singing, and Twice as Good playing guitars in matching outfits.

Indigenous Music & Arts Festival

July 23 & 24, 2022: 10 am - 5 pm

After a two-year hiatus Ganondagan's Indigenous Music & Arts Festival is returning Saturday and Sunday, July 23 - 24, 2022. For this year only, our Indigenous Music & Arts Festival will be FREE for everyone! The event showcases Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures through dance, music, storytelling, authentic craft demonstrations, a Native American Arts Market, a Family Discovery Tent, raffles, guided trail walks, gallery tours, food, and more. 

This summer's event headlines a return appearance of Indigenous blues performers Twice As Good, and Native American flute player, singer/songwriter Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne), joined by her husband dancer/drummer/storyteller, Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha).  Crowd favorites, Allegany River Dancers will be demonstrating Iroquois Social Dancing, Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) and Perry Ground (Onondaga) will be storytelling on the main stage.

On Saturday, July 23 we'll be celebrating Dr. Peter Jemison Day to honor the illustrious career of Ganondagan's founding site manager. Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan) began his career at Ganondagan in 1988. During his tenure, Jemison was instrumental in ensuring that Ganondagan became recognized as an international site for Haudenosaunee history and culture. The site now spans 569 acres, features a full-size Seneca Bark Longhouse, 1700 square foot Seneca Art & Culture Center, and interpretive trails. Peter Jemison is a well-established, internationally recognized artist and will now be dedicating his efforts to his art career. To make a donation in honor of G Peter Jemison please visit the donation page.

This year's event is free but if you are able, please consider donating $5/ person, $10/family to help support the festival.

Nya:wëh (Thank you)!

 


Image of a cartoon water bottle with text: Bring your own water bottle! Hydration stations available throughout the festival

Festival ATM

ATM Icon

ATM is located in SACC Lobby

Twice as Good wearing matching outfits and playing guitar

Twice as Good

Performing high energy blues, soul and rock & roll; the father-son duo Twice As Good aka 2XG feature Paul & Rich Steward who are members of the Pomo tribe who call Elem Indian Colony, on the shores of Clear Lake, north of San Francisco; home. Twice As Good blends the blues of B.B. King, and the soul of Al Green with Indigenous rhythms into a highly danceable style of music that’s all their own. Touring since 2003, Twice As Good are among the most decorated Native American musicians performing today. 

Shelley Morningsong and Fabian Fontenelle wearing traditional regalia

Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle

2019 Native American Music Awards "Artist of the Year" singer, songwriter, Native American flute player and Grammy Member Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne) is a Multiple Music Award Winner! With seven prestigious Native American Music Awards to her credit, Shelley Morningsong sings, writes and performs soulful and powerful Native American Contemporary music. She has also authored her very first children's book called "She Talks to the Animals" based on a song she wrote for her album Love Medicine.
 
Shelley is joined by her husband, Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha), who presents Northern Traditional dancing, storytelling and traditional Plains & Southwestern style drumming at its finest to accompany her presentation. Fabian brings great honor to his Zuni and Omaha families through what he shares on stage and in his own personal life. He is also an original member of the American Indian Dance Theater. Shelley and Fabian have traveled to many countries around the world educating about Native American cultures. 
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Dr Peter Jemison Day

On Saturday, July 23 we'll be celebrating Dr Peter Jemison Day to honor the illustrious career of Ganondagan's founding site manager.
 
Join us at 2 PM on Saturday for “Nya:wëh to Pete” in the performance tent and “Pie with Pete” in the Auditorium (limited seating). Pie with Pete is limited to ticket holders only so be sure to get your ticket for a seat in the auditorium, and a slice of pie with Pete.
 
In honor of Peter, our gift shop will be selling limited edition canvas market tote bags, and t-shirts featuring a full color Peter Jemison original. And, there will be onsite screen printing by Lake Ontario Press (of a different Peter Jemison original) available only on Saturday, July 23rd! Printed shirts will be available for $20 each OR go through your closet or stop by a local thrift store for a 100% or 50/50 Cotton t-shirt, bring it to the festival on Saturday to be silk screened on site for ONLY $10! It's a great way to be sustainable!

Perry Ground standing inside the Seneca Bark Longhouse

Iroquois Social Dancing, Storytelling & more!

Popular Iroquois Social Dancing returns, performing twice daily this year. Bill Crouse (Seneca) leads the Allegany River Dancers in full regalia. You’ll also find our fascinating Native American Arts Market, traditional arts demonstrators, Indigenous foods, Iroquois storytelling as told by Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) and Perry Ground (Onondaga),"hands-on" fun in the Wegmans Family Discovery Tent, free admission to the Seneca Art & Culture Center, guided trail walks, bark longhouse tours, and much more. 

Ronnie Reitter, wearing a ribbon dress and holding a corn husk doll, tells a story onstage


Admission

2022 Special- FREE Admission for ALL
 
"This year only, we are offering free admission to the Indigenous Music & Arts festival as a way to do something good for the community, promote unity, and encourage people to get to know about Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures.
 
Since Saturday is Dr. Peter Jemison Day, free admission removes any barriers that may have gotten in the way for people to come out and celebrate Pete's many accomplishments and all the good work he's done for Ganondagan, the Haudenosaunee and Indigenous communities, and the Greater Rochester area as a whole"
Program Director, Jeanette Jemison (Mohawk). 

ASL Interpretation

ASL Interpretation provided at the main stage, throughout performances

Sponsored by The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college of Rochester Institute of Technology

Festival Parking Information

Free parking and shuttle service is available from 9:45 am - 6:15 pm at Fireman's Field. Shuttle service runs every 10 -15 minutes. 

Parking at the Seneca Art & Culture Center is for Accessible Parking with Permit only.

Directions to Victor Fireman's Field
Coming from Route 96 (Main St) turn onto Maple Ave/Rt 444, Fireman's Field is on the right across from St. Patrick's Church (turning after the Pedestrian Crossing sign)

Fireman's Field

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2022 ARTIST DEMONSTRATORS

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ARTIST DEMONSTRATION TENT:

Artist Demonstrations are supported through funding by Creatives Rebuild New York  

TIMESATURDAY & SUNDAY
11:00 AM - 12:00 PMDan Hill (Cayuga) - Silversmith
1:00 PM - 2:00 PMTonia Loran Galban (Mohawk)- Basket Making
3:00 PM - 4:00 PMJamie Jacobs (Tonawanda Seneca)- Quillwork

PERFORMANCE TENT:

TIMESATURDAYTIMESUNDAY
10:30-11:00 AMStorytelling with Ronnie Reitter10:30-11:00 AMStorytelling with Perry Ground
11:30-12:15 PMHaudenosaunee Social Dancing with Bill Crouse & the Allegany River Indian Dancers11:30 - 12:15 PMHaudenosaunee Social Dancing with Bill Crouse & the Allegany River Indian Dancers
1:00 -2:00 PMMusic & Dance by Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle1:30 - 2:30 PMMusic & Dance by Shelley Morningsong & Fabian Fontenelle
2:00-2:30 PMNya:wëh to Peter Jemison 3:30 - 4:30 PMMusic by "Twice As Good"
3:30 - 4:30 PMMusic by "Twice As Good"  

Colorful cartoon hands with hearts in palms, reaching up together. Text reads: Volunteers Needed!

Festival Volunteers Needed!

Our Indigenous Music and Arts Festival is not possible without volunteers like you!

If you have the time, please sign up to volunteer. Positions needed include greeters, parking attendants, raffle attendants, hospitality, staffing for family activities in the Family Discovery Tent, volunteer check-in, recycling sorters, and flexible people able to act as extra hands and pitch in wherever needed.

For questions regarding volunteering please contact: aimee@ganondagan.org


The Indigenous Music & Arts Festival is made possible by generous Sponsorship

 

"New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature."