A powwow singing workshop, Cherokee storytelling, arts and craft workshops and native food will be just a few of the activities at the 2011 Native American Heritage Festival on Saturday, Nov. 12, at Rogers State University.
The festival, which is free and open to the public, will be held from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. in the Centennial Center on the RSU campus in Claremore, 1701 W. Will Rogers Blvd.
The RSU Native American Heritage Festival is co-sponsored by the RSU Native American Student Association and RSU Department of Fine Arts.
“Our festival is a great opportunity for the campus and community to experience making authentic American Indian crafts, hear traditional storytelling and even witness a ‘stomp dance,’ or the traditional music of Native American people who came from the Southeast,” said Dr. Hugh Foley, RSU fine arts professor and festival organizer.
Free arts and crafts classes will be offered for adults and children from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Participants can learn how to make corn husk dolls, baskets, cane flutes, beaded necklaces and dream catchers in a “make it and take it” format.
Robert Lewis, will present Cherokee storytelling at 1 p.m.
Joe Don Waters, of Kiowa and Ponca descent, will present a powwow singing workshop at 2 p.m.
Vann Bighorse will give an Osage dice game demonstration at 3 p.m.
John Timothy, of Muscogee and Creek descent, will give a Native American flute presentation at 4 p.m.
From 5 to 7 p.m. the “First Nations of Oklahoma Legacy” video series will be featured on the Ballroom big screen. At this time, Indian tacos from the RSU Native American Student Association will be served.
A traditional Native American stomp dance will be held from 7 to 10 p.m. The stomp dance will be hosted by the Tallahassee (Wvkokye) Ceremonial Grounds of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation. David Proctor (Muscogee) will be Mekko and Sam Proctor (Muscogee) will serve as Heles Hayv (advisor). Roman Hill (Muscogee) will serve as emcee. All leaders, shell shakers and the public are welcome to participate.
The festival was funded by a grant from the Oklahoma Arts Council. Through state appropriations and grants from the National Endowment for Arts, the Oklahoma Arts Council funds more than 1,200 events annually with an estimated total attendance of more than 3.5 million. Projects funded by the Oklahoma Arts Council generally account for more than $20 million in grants and matching funds distributed throughout Oklahoma’s economy throughout the state’s rural and urban communities.
All events will be held in the Ballroom and East Veranda of the Centennial Center.
For more information on the festival, call (918) 343-7566 or email [email protected].