This Saturday and Sunday (June 22 and 23), Military Park in Indianapolis, Indiana will be rocking to drums and Native American flute at the 21st annual Indian Market and Festival sponsored by the  Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art. The sweet smell of frybread will fill the air, while artists show off their beautiful creations of jewelry and art.

Come for a weekend celebration of Native American cultures through art, music, dance, demonstrations, food and more. Featuring Native performers and more than 150 artists from more than 60 tribes, the Indian Market and Festival is a one-of-a kind cultural experience right here in the Midwest.

Accepted Artists

Preview Party

Launching the weekend’s activities, the Preview Party showcases the award winners of the juried competition in the Best of Show exhibit. Hang out with the artists in a relaxing environment before the hubbub of Indian Market and Festival kicks in. Bid on the artwork from market artists in the silent auction. Enjoy an innovative taste of the Southwest buffet and a cash bar courtesy of Kahn’s Catering. And the best part? Preview Party guests also get exclusive early-bird preview shopping on Saturday morning and VIP market passes for the whole weekend. Please RSVP online or by phone at (317) 275.1333.

Entertainment Highlights

∙ Shelley Morningsong (Northern Cheyenne) comes from a musical family. At 17 she joined a country-rock band called Hearts of the West that opened up for Charlie Daniels and Juice Newton. Morningsong performs with her husband, Fabian Fontenelle (Zuni/Omaha) who is a world-renowned men’s northern traditional dancer, storyteller and historian. They met while performing with Robert Mirabal’s Music from a Painted Cave.


∙ Twin Rivers was started by Adrian Wall (Jemez Pueblo/Ojibwe) and Ed Kabotie (Hopi/Santa Clara Pueblo), friends since their early teens. Over the years, these two musicians have fostered a friendship that is embodied in Twin Rivers’ music. Their winsome blend of traditional and contemporary vocals and the ability to create beautifully melodic songs creates a refreshingly genuine expression.

∙ Tony Duncan (Apache/Hidatsa/Arikara) is a five-time world champion hoop dancer and performing artist. He is a rising star who appears in Nelly Furtado’s “Big Hoops” video and has performed on the Tonight Show and at the Billboard Music Awards. He often performs with the group Estun-Bah and has a popular CD out of Canyon Records, Earth Warrior.


∙ Fred Shaw (Shawnee) is passionate about the craft of storytelling.

“I present stories, visuals and experiences that break stereotypes. I expect the audience to laugh, to have fun, to cry, and to experience at least the beginning of transformation.”

∙ The Delaware Living History Village is a peak into history. At age 17, Jessica Diemer-Eaton worked as a historical interpreter for Lenape/Delaware at a living museum in New Jersey. Since then, she has worked with more than 31,000 students focusing on interpretation. She currently studies anthropology at Indiana University with a focus on Native women’s status, gender roles and family life.

Things get going first thing with Brian Buchannan, Chief of the Miami Indians of Indiana offering an official welcome and prayer to the artists and visitors. Then it’s nonstop storytelling, music and dance until the gates close. Checkout the jam-packed schedule here:


Entertainment Schedule
Saturday and Sunday
Main Stage

10:30 a.m. Welcome and Prayer
11 a.m. Fred Shaw (Shawnee), storyteller
Noon Shelley Morningsong with Fabian Fontenelle
1 p.m. Tony Duncan and Estun-Bah
2 p.m. Twin Rivers
3 p.m. Shelley Morningsong with Fabian Fontenelle
4 p.m. Tony Duncan and Estun-Bah



Cultural Presentations and Demonstrations

All day Delaware encampment
11–Noon SD Youngwolf (Georgia Tribe of Eastern Cherokee), sculpture demo)
12–2:30 Daniel Bigay (Cherokee), cultural items demo
12:30–1 Fred Shaw, storytelling
1:30–2 Todd Bordeaux (Sicangu-Lakota), beadwork demo
2:30–3 Fred Shaw, storytelling
3–3:30 Adrian Wall and Ed Kabotie, music demo


Dogbane Family Activity Area

Museum-based art activities for all ages to make and take home. Inspired by the Guitars! exhibit, color guitar fans and make guitar pick pendants. Create your own ledger art and, an Indian Market favorite; create sgraffito “scratch art” like Jody Naranjo’s pottery.

Admission

Adults 18 and older: $10 at the gate. Museum members: $8. Advance sale tickets available at Marsh Stores and the Eiteljorg Museum for $8. Youth 17 and under are FREE. Ticket prices include same-day museum admission.


For information and advance tickets call (317) 636.9378 or toll-free (800) 622.2024

Parking

White River State Park underground garage next to the Eiteljorg Museum and IUPUI parking lots across from Military Park. Shuttles from Museum are available.
SOURCE


13 WTHR Indianapolis