Sarasota Native American Indian Festival

Come join us and experience the culture and artistry of the Native American people at the 13^th annual Sarasota Native American Indian Festival January 24, 25, 26 at the Sarasota Fairgrounds.

Welcome back Rick Bird and the Bird Choppers as our host drum this year. Rick's drum is called the “Bird Chopper.” Bird which is named after his Cherokee ancestor who fought for the Cherokee lands, "if it wasn’t for the ancestor’s steadfast opposition, the Cherokee reservation in North Carolina may not have ever been formed." Rick is also well known for working with children, passing the culture to the next generations. He will be bringing the newest members of his grand baby tribe, who are all learning the dances, drum and flute in the circle. We are happy they will be joining us again this year.

We are honored to have as our guest artist, Lowery Begay. Lowery is from the Dine’ (Navajo) Nation and traditionally raised on the Navajo Reservation in New Mexico and Arizona. Lowery learned the traditional Navajo ways from his grandparents and has been dancing his entire life. As a world champion hoop dancer and Northern Style Fancy dancer, Lowery has been a cultural educator, storyteller and drum maker while playing the Native Flute professionally for over 15 years. His educational programs have has had the opportunity to share his gift around the world traveling and performing in Japan, Norway, Switzerland, Iceland, Belgium, Germany, Italy, England, and the Grand Opening of the Native American Museum in Washington, D.C

Nammy Award winning artist JJ Otero will be joining us again this year. His self-proclaimed "Native soul rock" band Saving Damsels received a Native American Music Award nomination for Best Rock Group Recording for their album "Find My Way." and went on to receive three New Mexico Music Awards nominations for “Best Rock CD for the album, Best World Beat song and Best Native song” under their new band name “Son Of Hwéeldi” which refers to “The Long Walk” (removal) of the Dine' people in the 1860s. JJ Otero brings a traditional Native voice to Rock & Roll and Blues/Raggae. JJ is also a silversmith and woodsmith.

We welcome back Peruvian flutist SICANNI a musician who bases his music on spirituality that intends to touch The Soul in order to create a better world ruled by LOVE. He also compose his own music and has been playing the Native American flutes and Native Peruvian flutes for 25 years , He is also a Native American Model and Actor.

Harold Little Bird: Flute and story telling. Harold Littlebird is from Laguna and Kewa Pueblos in New Mexico and now resides in Florida. He has been making his award winning pottery for over forty five years. Harold began his careen in clay under the tutelage of Ralph A. Pardington and graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in 1969. Harold developed his unique styles of contemporary hand building clay without the use of a potter's wheel. His work is entirely hand built using slab construction and added adaptions of traditional coil building. His veers from traditional pueblo pottery in that it is stoneware, totally usable as table ware. Harold's methods of decoration also differs from traditional Pueblo pottery. The elaborate designs on most of his work are meticulously hand drawn created with unerglaze pencils. He then kiln fires his stoneware in an oxidation fired process. Harold's work in nationally recognized in many private collections and numerous museums throughout the country, including the prestigious Smithsonian Museum in Washington D.C.

Frank Silverhawk from the Cherokee nation will be story telling and sharing his great sense of humor with us for the weekend.

The Bird Tribe band- Sarasota's own the Bird Tribe band will be joining us. The Bird Tribe's unique expansive sound is lyrically poetic with a mixture of heavy groove, Rock, Soul, and an Experimental feel. The band is fueled by each member’s diverse musical upbringing.

The Bird Tribe’s soulful music is a beautiful journey through the spectrum of sound. They bring an exciting and uplifting energy, and a true love of sharing their art.

Here is a clip of Robert Mirabal and the Bird Tribe band performing "Change", an original piece by the Bird Tribe. The concert took place at Art Ovation Hotel in Downtown Sarasota.

The Art

General Grant from the Cherokee Nation will be joining us. General is one of the few master wampum artists of his generation. You can find General's jewelry here... http://traditionalhands.com/

Onondaga stone carver and leather artist Dave Farnham. Dave lives in Canada and is know for his soapstone sculptures and leather work.

Lola Rios Swimmer will be joining us with her feather artwork and paintings...Find more of Lolas artwork here...

http://www.artsthatspeak.com/lola-rios-swimmer.html

The artwork of Cheyenne drum maker and leather artist Harry Duran.

Sandy Buttry from Inner Mountain Stones & Wood will be joining us. Sandy is a gifted wire wrapper and natural material artist...her stone, goard and elemental art pieces are all one of a kind pieces...

Peace Pipe Traders will be with us for all your supply deeds...

The art of Kim Bugg

Amber Dawn with Morning Crow Designs

Kent and Leslie Tyler from Log Furniture Blue Ridge

Roland Dempsey with One Nation Apparel

We are excited to have Christie LaTone from the Zuni nation. Christie brings her family's traditional jewelry and exquisite inlay jewelry.

Instrument makers:

Utah Farris will be joining us again this year. Utah makes beautiful hand made flutes.

Sicanni Peruvian flutes

Allen Hollingshead Red Wind Flutes

Allen Yanko drums

John Feather artwork...

and more to come...

Come join our community...

This festival will continue to be a tribute to the extraordinary life of artist (the late) Rex A. Begaye, its founder. His remarkable gifts as an painter and educator of Native American culture were the inspiration for this event focused on bringing authentic Native American culture to Sarasota.

Enjoy finding authentic, handmade, one-of-a-kind fine arts and crafts, paintings, pottery, jewelry, sculpture, bead work and leather work, along with traditional dancing, singing, drumming, story telling and Native American food.

Purchase tickets at the gate, $10 adult, $8 Military/First Responders, $5 children 6-12, 5 and under are free. Hours are 10-5 Friday, 10-6 Saturday and 10-5 on Sunday.

Friday is kids day...all children and schools are free. If you have a home school or group and would like to come please contact us at:

Sarasotanativeamericanindianfestival.com pobsrq@gmail.com facebook/sarasotanativefest

We are honored to announce the inaugural Sarasota Native American Indian Festival!

ALL EVENTS AND SCREENINGS ARE FREE. LIMITED SEATING. RESERVATIONS RECOMMENDED.

On January 24 through January 25th, 2020, the 1st Annual Sarasota Native American Film Festival will take place on the campus of New College of Florida at the Mildred Sainer Pavilion, 5313 Bay Shore Road, Sarasota, Florida. This festival will showcase films that speak to the Native American/Indigenous Peoples experience in America. The films include Buffalo Hunt, Moses on the Mesa, Music on the Road and Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World. Each film will include an opportunity to interact with the filmmakers, producers and the subjects involved in the film. Highlighting the festival will be an opportunity to hear from Julian Bear Runner, Oglala Sioux Tribe President. The festival will also feature Native American music and dance. This festival is presented by The Boxser Diversity Initiative and the Sarasota Film Festival and supported by New College of Florida, AMI Florida, and Path of Beauty Legacy, inc.