16th Annual American Indian Festival
American Indian Festival
October 19, 2024 | 11:00am-4:00pm
Patuxent River Park 16000 Croom Airport Road Upper Marlboro, MD 20772
ASL interpretation available on site
The American Indian Festival is a vibrant celebration of Native American culture, heritage, and traditions, offering diverse Native communities – especially those identifying as Eastern Woodland – a space to honor and share their rich cultural legacy.
Open to everyone, the free festival invites attendees to experience the following to foster unity, understanding, and appreciation of local Native American heritage:
Live music and traditional & contemporary dances of Native America
Pony rides (purchase ticket at the festival)
Native American horsemanship
Interactive storytelling
DIY arts and crafts area for all ages
Artisan market featuring authentic crafts
Archery
Genealogy exhibit
Demonstrations of native tools & technologies
Native food vendors
Performers
Affiliation: Nanticoke
Bio: I am a Jingle dress dancer from Millsboro, Delaware.
Instagram: @Lilyelagirl
Affiliation: Cree/nehiyaw – Frog Lake First Nation, Alberta, Canada
Bio: Angela Miracle Gladue is a Cree (nehiyaw) Interdisciplinary Artist from Edmonton, Alberta and a proud member of Frog Lake First Nation. Angela will perform two styles: The Native American Hoop Dance and The Fancy Shawl Dance.
Website: misschiefrocka.com
Instagram: @misschiefrocka
Group Members: Adniel Avendano, Valeska Garay, Edgar Alcantara, Paulino Pedraza, Yanet Cuadros, Jose Piña, Angeles, Ezequiel Reyes, Rosa Ruiz
Affiliation: AZTEC
Bio: We are a multicultural group representing the dances, music & cosmovision of Mexica people.
Instagram: @canpatlaneci Facebook: @Danza Azteca del Anahuac
Affiliation: Lumbee
Bio: From the east coast, Cristian is a young grass dancer and a Native American flutist.
Group Members: Kaya Littleturtle, Ethan Oxendine, Chloe Greene, Makayla Brave Heart, Logan Canty, Skyah Littleturtle, Wynter Littleturtle, Ozuye Cikala Littleturtle
Affiliation: Tuscarora
Bio: We come from the original homelands of the Katehnuaka Tuscarora. We share a variety of our longhouse songs and dances as well as woodland powwow style. For AIF, expect Woodland style dancers, smoke dancers, and social dance songs and dances on the water drum.
Performers
Group Members: Cameron Bryant, Keith Cox, Chayton Lowery, Kaya Littleturtle
Affiliation: Katehnuaka Tuscarora
Bio: Northern Style drum group from Backswamp North Carolina
YouTube: WarPaint Singers Facebook: Warpaint Singers
Group Members: Hope Butler, Shannon Harley, Tonia Harley, Tierra Robinson, Bryce Morganz, and Sarita Proctor Smith
Affiliation: Piscataway
About: Kanawha is an intergenerational group of Piscataway members dedicated to keeping the traditions and culture of our ancestors alive for present-day and emerging generations. Kanawha means Conoy in the Haudeshonee. The Haudeshonee (Iriquois) people referred to the Piscataway people as Conoy. However, in their traditional language, Conoy is Kanawha. Kanawha (Conoy) means “below the rapids.” At the festival, Kanawaha will perform the Piscataway welcome dance – a blessing of the land and 4 directions.
Affiliation: Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina
Bio: My name is Louis Campbell from the lumbee tribe of North Carolina. I reside in Baltimore MD like alot of lumbees we moved here for work. I am a traditional dancer.
Facebook: Louis Campbell
Affiliation: Lumbee
Bio: From the east coast, Nakoma runs a culture class in Fayetteville. Nakoma will be doing fancy dancing.
Vendors
(Sharon’s Dine Navajo Jewelry)
Maker: Sharon Affiliation: Dine Navajo
(Jassier Cabrera)
Maker: Jassier Cabrera Affiliation: Kichwa Nation
About: Native Spirit sells Native American jewelry, blankets, pottery, clothing, and more. Native Spirit is proud to offer high quality, unique merchandise. Website: www.nativespiritstore.com
(Stacey Littledeer)
Maker: Stacey Littledeer Affiliation: Mattaponi/Southeast Cherokee
About: As an artist with no schooling or formal training, Stacey Littledeer of Spirit Fire Art worked for years to develop a unique, individual style. Stacey shares her vision through original pastel and watercolor “Spirit Paintings.” Website: spiritfireart.com
(Naiche Tayac)
Maker: Naiche Tayac Affiliation: Piscataway Indian Nation / San Carlos Apache
About: Tayac Creations is a proudly Indigenous-owned business specializing in handmade sterling silver jewelry and Native print blankets. Representing the Piscataway Nation and the San Carlos Apache Tribe, Tayac Creations travels the powwow trail across the USA, bringing authentic, handcrafted pieces that reflect Native culture and artistry.
(Ayanna Proctor)
Maker: Ayanna Proctor Affiliation: Piscataway Nation
About: Ayanna Proctor is Piscataway Nation Turtle Clan. She practices traditional woodland farming, hide tanning and wild-crafting. Ayanna is an award-winning quillwork artist and illustrator whose artwork has exhibited in the U.S., Canada and Europe. Woodland Crow Leather will be selling Woodland quillwork on birchbark, woodland dolls, wampum and cedar jewelry, and prints. Website: www.woodlandcrowleather.com