June 14, 2008
Cayuga Nation Picnic
A Day of Music, Food and Friendship
Location: 4061 Truesdale Rd. Union Springs, NY, 13160
Time: 10 a.m - Dark

Benefit Bar-B-Q for the Farm, Pendleton Blanket Raffle, Art Works Raffle, Potluck Meal, Artist Vendors, Blues, Rock, Folk, Country, All Kinds of Music, Friends, Family, Social Dances, Cayuga Speakers, Chiefs and Clan Mothers, Food and more

Food Drive for The Longest Walk 2: Bring a canned food item.

Directions:
From the West: I-90 to exit 41, go south on 414 to the light. Turn right on 318 till the T at 5 & 20, turn left go to the 2nd light and turn right, that will be St. Rt. 90. Go past the towns of Cayuga and Union Springs till you get to Great Gully Rd. Turn left, go to Truesdale Rd. and turn left, the farm is on the left.
From the East: I-90 to exit 40, go south through Auburn and follow 34 till 34-b and take that, then turn right on Great Gully, turn right on Truesdale Rd. and you are there.

Note: No Drugs or Alcohol

Contact: cayugaconnect@netzero.net
Arts and Crafts Vendors Call 315-889-5120 ugieflute@netscape.net.

July 26 & 27, 2008 (Saturday & Sunday)
Ganondagan's Native American Dance & Music Festival
Location: Ganondagan State Historic Site
Time: 10 a.m - 6 p.m.

Ganondagan's Native American Dance & Music Festival is the only event of its kind in western New York. Over 4,000 people attend each year from 37 counties and 20 states.

FESTIVAL OVERVIEW

Featured Traditional Artist: Halau O 'Aulani
E komo mai…welcome…to songs and dances of Hawai'i. The mission of Halau O 'Aulani is to teach and perpetuate the cultures, traditions and values of the People of Hawai'i through dance, language, art, music, history and customs. This 12 member performing group has won rave reviews from the Hawai'i Visitors & Convention Bureau, Office of Hawai'ian Affairs, The Washington Post, the Smithsonian Institution, the USO (United Service Organizations), Wolf Trap Foundation for the Performing Arts, and the Kennedy Center just to name a few. They will perform both traditional hula kahiko and modern hula 'auana.

Traditional Pow Wow Drum: YOUNG GUNZ
Young Gunz is a Northern straight style powwow drum. The group members are Haudenesaune (Iroquois or Six Nations), Ojibway, and Cree singers collectively composing songs of unity. Young Gunz is a drum of who has brought themselves together in order to strengthen each other's path. They are called Young Gunz because they arm themselves with young hearts! Together they are powerful enough to overcome the hardships and celebrate in victory each time a song is sung. Members of this group are champion dancers, language bearers, song-makers, traditional craftsmen and academic achievers.

Young Gunz songs provide a fusion of new and old styles, bringing together a proud past and an everlasting future. They travel nationally and internationally and have won several contest powwows.

Young Gunz has attained status among their peers and has been recognized at many cultural events including the Native American Music Awards 2007; they have performed at some of the best Native venues including the Canadian Aboriginal Festival, Peabody Museum of Ottawa, and the Museum of Civilization in Ottawa. This group has also had the privilege of performing for the Prime Minister Jean Chretian on Parliament Hill.

Buffalo Creek Dancers
This multi-generational company was created in 1989 with a mission to promote dances, clothing, and cultural experiences of the Iroquois people. They are composed of dancers primarily from the Cattaraugus Indian Reservation in New York State.

Young Spirit Dancers
This Native American youth/young adult dance group was formed in 1995 as a way to develop Native youth as leaders and presenters of Iroquois and other Native cultures' music and dance. Members come primarily from the five county Greater Rochester area. They have received instruction from members of the nationally acclaimed American Indian Dance Theater and have learned several forms of Native American dance, including Pow Wow, Navajo, Iroquois, Pueblo, Plains and Northwest Indians styles.

Artist in Residence at Festival - Daniel Pinock Smith, Anishinabeg, Birchbark Craftsman
"Pinock" is an Anishinabeg (of the Algonquin First Nation) from the Kitigàn-źb́ Reserve in Quebec (90 miles north of Ottawa near Maniwaki). He grew up with traditional parents and relatives who lived off the land hunting and fishing and making traditional crafts for sale. He learned how to make canoes, paddles, snowshoes, sleds, cradleboards, drums, axe handles, leatherwork, and to tan hides and smoke fish/meats, etc. Pinock is a seasoned workshop leader, craft demonstrator and lecturer and is known for his high quality work. He will demonstrate his birch bark container making skills in keeping with our 2008 Festival Theme: Containers from the Natural World.

Traditional Art Workshops
Three master artists will demonstrate traditional arts and crafts in a workshop setting, giving visitors hands-on experiences with cornhusk dollmaking, rattle making, and mini-canoe carving.

Other Daily Festival Events

1. Family Drum Jam featuring three of Rochester's premier percussionists and dozens of instruments for families to play in guided sessions.
2. Performing Artist Presentations (after each groups' performance) in the Education Tent talking about their Iroquois, Pow Wow, and Hawaiian dance outfits and instruments.
3. Native American Art Market bringing together some of the most gifted Native artists in the region, the U.S and Canada.
4. Children's Craft Activities are very popular and include hands-on simple craft projects such as jewelry making and pouch edge beading.
5. Storytelling Program with Iroquois storytellers: Perry Ground (Onondaga) and Barbara Bethmann Mahooty (Mohawk)
6. Native Food Vendors with traditional and contemporary foods
7. Historical and Cultural Video Screenings at the Visitors Center
8. Artists' Tent with their CD's, tapes, books, etc. and greeting and signing opportunities
9. Gift Shop featuring Native music, arts, and publications of performing artists and theme of Festival
10. Guided Trail Walks and 17thC Seneca Bark Longhouse Tours
11. Sign Language Interpreters
12. Festival Grounds Shuttle Service for elderly/handicapped; Free Shuttle Bus Service from Town of Victor lots to Festival admission gate.

Wednesday, August 20, 2008
Educator's Day 2008: A Day with Mary Jemison
Co-Sponsored by the Pittsford Teacher Center
Location: Ganondagan State Historic Site
Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

This year is the 250th Anniversary of Mary Jemison's capture by the Shawnees and adoption by the Senecas. Most of us have heard of the "White Woman of the Genesee" but what is the real story of her life? Here is your chance to learn more about this historic figure who is sometimes misunderstood and misrepresented.

Come spend a day with Mary Jemison!

The Event
What was life like on the Pennsylvania frontier? How were captives adopted into the Seneca Nation? Who was Mary Jemison? What was life like for her? What does it mean to be a Seneca?

G. Peter Jemison, the rest of the staff of Ganondagan State Historic Site, the Friends of Ganondagan Education Committee and some special guests will present a look at Mary Jemison and the Senecas.
The workshop will include:

1. Life in a Scotch-Irish household on the Pennsylvania frontier
2. Influence of the French and Indian War - captivity, adoption, and identity
3. Life in the Longhouse
4. Seneca Genealogy
5. A visity with Mary Jemison (as portrayed by Gretchen Sepik>

Participants will receive a folder of information, a ticket for a return visit to the site, and a 10% discount coupon for use at Ganondagan's Gift Shop (where resources on the Haudenosaunee and Mary Jemison will be available for purchase) for the day of the event. They will also meet the staff and receive information about booking a group visit to Ganondagan.

General Information
Registration:

1. The registration fee is $75 ($65 for Friends of Ganondagan members and $55 for Native Americans with tribal affiliation card)
2. Payment by check or purchase order
3. All registrations will be confirmed by email or phone

Food: A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided and are included in the registration.

Educator's Day will take place rain or shine!
Please dress for the weather including comfortable walking shoes and rain gear.

There will be many great photo opportunities. Bring your camera!

The Sign-In Desk will open at 8:30 AM

For further information, please contact Gail Fowler at 585/352-6112 or at gailfowler@juno.com

Please click here to download and print the registration form.