Tag: #native american dance

Celebrate with the Institute for American Indian Studies

The Institute for American Indian Studies is celebrating 50 years since its founding in 1975 with two summer events. On Sunday, August 10, we will present our renowned Green Corn Festival in Hollow Park, Woodbury. The 20th year of this festival recognizes that corn is an integral part of the annual life cycle of Native American People and celebrates the time when the first tender ears are ripe for picking. Welcome the first corn of the season with drumming, dancing, Indigenous-focused activities, vendors, Native storytelling, and more! Enjoy the Native Nations Dance Troupe led by Erin Lamb Meeches (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) and flute music by Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe). The event will occur rain or shine from noon to 4:00 pm. Tickets are available on the website: www.iaismuseum.org, and on the day of the event.

On Thursday, August 14, we will celebrate our 50th Anniversary with a gala at Hopkins Vineyard. Honorary Chairs Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) and Matt Kent, Pilobolus Artistic Director, invite you to join IAIS for hearty hors d’oeuvres, wine and other libations, flute music by Allan Madahbee (Ojibwe), and a special dance performance by Pilobolus. Darlene, the Institute’s Outreach Ambassador and acclaimed Native storyteller, collaborated with Matt Kent to provide narration and insight on Indigenous-inspired dances. The evening will also acknowledge founding member Edmund Swigart, respected archaeologist and teacher, and the inspiring guidance provided by Adelphena Logan, an esteemed elder of the Onondaga Tribe.

Gala tickets range from Quinnetukut, Wigwam, and Three Sisters sponsorship levels to individual tickets. Reservations are available at http://www.iaismuseum.org. For additional information, email events@iaismuseum.org or call 860-868-0518.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies
The Institute for American Indian Studies is a museum and research center dedicated to tracing more than 12,000 years of Indigenous accomplishments and celebrating the vibrant lifeways of contemporary Indigenous communities. Exhibits, programs, and a replicated Algonkian village provide opportunities to learn about the Woodland Indians who have lived in the northeast since time immemorial.

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2024 Summer Camp at the Institute for American Indian Studies Registration is Open

Registration is now open for the 2024 summer camp weekly programs for children ages 6 – 12 at the Institute for American Indian Studies at 38 Curtis Road in Washington, Connecticut. The summer camp runs for six consecutive weeks from June 24 through the week of August 5 (excluding the week of July 1), Monday through Friday, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. The Institute’s summer camp programs strive to get children unplugged from indoor activities through exciting hands-on programs that get them outdoors. Weekly programs encourage children to practice team building, make new friends, appreciate nature, and connect with an enriching culture that is more than 12,000 years old. To find out more and to register online visit https://www.iaismuseum.org/summer-camp. For questions call 868-0518 ext. 453 or email gbenjamin@iaismuseum.org.

Native American history comes alive through the educationally entertaining activities curated by the professional Educational Department of the Institute. Trailblazing through the woods, investigating the natural world, mock archaeological digs, educational games, listening to traditional Native American stories, learning new crafts, and working together to complete a group project are just some of the ways children will enjoy their time at the Institute. Each week the Institute will offer a different series of exciting programs to engage and educate children.

A connection to nature plays a critical role in a child’s development. Children that want to learn more about the natural environment and how they relate to it might want to register for, “Getting in Touch with Your Senses,” from June 24 – June 28.

“Planting Seeds for Growth: Project Week,” from July 8-July 12 will teach children invaluable skills that have been passed down through generations of Native American communities. Foraging, building from natural materials, sewing, and weaving, are just some of the topics that will be covered. This program will help build confidence, teach basic survival skills, and enhance understanding of the great outdoors.

Children who are budding writers, actors, actresses, puzzle solvers, and researchers will enjoy “A Play on Words: Imagination and Learning Through Storytelling,” from July 15- July 19. These programs are finely tuned to help further develop children’s communication skills by sharpening their abilities to record, pass on, and interpret information in many ways from storytelling to theatrical expression.

Perfect for children concerned about the environment and how to survive naturally, “Power of the Eighth Generation: Eco-Survival Skills,” from July 22 – July 26 promises to be as fun as it is informative. Campers will practice traditional survival skills like navigation, carving, lashing, and more as they explore technologies that Native Americans used for thousands of years to thrive in the Eastern Woodlands. Through these programs, campers will also learn how we impact our environment.

For children interested in archeology, “Time Travel: Understanding the Past, Present, and Future,” from July 29 – August 2 is a must. Campers will learn how to put scientific methods into practice and learn the power of oral tradition through games, mock digs, and other activities.

Ideal for children who have a thirst for knowledge and want a deeper understanding of our natural environment, “Ecological Explorations: Two-Eyed Seeing in the Natural World,” from August 5- August 9, is perfect for them. The programs being offered explore the concept of both traditional indigenous ecological knowledge and Western scientific concepts to help children better understand the natural environment from two informative and yet different perspectives. Plant and animal identification, traditional ways Native American communities have used and respected the land and water, animal adaptations, and much more make this a unique educational experience.

About The Institute for American Indian Studies
Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have a 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

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Savor Indigenous Foods @ the Founders Clambake September 16 With the Institute for American Indian Studies

Lobsters, clams, corn, and potatoes are all hallmarks of Indigenous foods and every September, the Institute for American Indian Studies celebrates the bounty of New England and its waterways with a Founders Clambake. This year, on Saturday, September 16, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. the public is invited to the annual Founders Clambake. The location for the event is 11 a School Street in Washington Depot.

Guests will experience a sumptuous seafood feast while enjoying drumming and dancing performed by the members of the Redhawk Indigenous Arts Council. Traditional dances are combined with stories that have thrilled audiences around the globe and are sure to be the highlight of this event. In addition to being invited to dance with the troupe, guests will have the opportunity to meet the dancers and learn about the importance of dancing, regalia, and music to indigenous peoples.

Brought back by popular demand, the Institute is also holding a Silent Auction during the clambake. Auction items will be on display during this event and winning bids will be announced after the dancers’ performance.

To attend this festive event that gives thanks to the many members, visitors, and volunteers who have made this museum a success for 45 years register online at https://www.iaismuseum.org by September 14. Tickets are $60 per person for members and $65 for non-members and include a lobster dinner. A children’s menu is offered for $10 and includes hot dogs, chips, and lemonade. No tickets will be sold at the door.

About the Institute for American Indian Studies

Located on 15 acres of woodland acres the Institute For American Indian Studies preserves and educates through archeology, research, exhibitions, and programs. They have the 16th c. Algonquian Village, Award-Winning Wigwam Escape, and a museum with temporary and permanent displays of authentic artifacts from prehistory to the present allows visitors to foster a new understanding of the world and the history and culture of Native Americans. The Institute for American Indian Studies is located at 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT.

About the Redhawk Indigenous Arts Council

Formed in 1994, this non-profit organization founded by Native American artists and educators is dedicated to educating the general public about Native American heritage through song, dance, works of art, and other cultural expressions.

JanetLeave a comment