July 22 & 23, 2022: 10 am - 5 pm

Ganondagan's Indigenous Music & Arts Festival takes place Saturday and Sunday, July 22 - 23, 2023. The annual event showcases Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures through dance, music, storytelling, traditional craft demonstrations, a Native American Arts Market, children's activities, raffles, guided trail walks, gallery tours, Indigenous food, and more. 

This year's festival features Native folk-rock band, December Wind (Mohawk), hoop dance champions and performers, the Sinquah Family Dance Troupe (Hopi/Tewa/Choctaw), americana singer-songwriter, Chris Bethmann (Mohawk), storytellers Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) & Tonia Galban (Mohawk), and Haudenosaunee social dancers, Indigenous Spirit Dancers. Artist demonstrations will include moccasin making with Samantha Jacobs (Seneca), leatherwork with Cliff Redeye (Seneca), and finger weaving with Marilyn Issacs (Tuscarora).

This year's event is free but if you are able, please consider donating $5/ person, $10/family to help support the festival.

Nya:wëh (Thank you)!

ATM is located in SACC Lobby

December Wind is a Native folk-rock band led by two-time Native American Music Award winning artist, Atsiaktonkie (Mohawk) accompanied by bass guitarist, Terry Terrance (Mohawk). Based out of Massena, NY they play acoustic folk-rock infused with their Akwesasne/Kanienkehaka (Mohawk) culture. Their songs are filled with stories of love, hope, the struggles of native peoples and the beauty of their heritage. “As an Indigenous person, I grab on tightly to our beautiful culture and let it shine out of the songs.” - Atsiaktonkie (Mohawk)

Performing Saturday only, Chris Bethmann (Mohawk) is a americana singer-songwriter from Rochester, NY. A trained guitarist, Bethmann channels influences like Jason Isbell and Eric Church, developing his own folk/rock sound. Whether it’s playing solo acoustic or with a full band, Bethmann’s style revolves around his adept ability to create stories, putting original twists on cliched themes and painting vivid pictures with poignant and realistic imagery. With one release under his belt (Naked Bourbon, 2018, self-released), Bethmann is barely scratching the surface of his catalog of original compositions.

Popular Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Social Dancing returns, performing twice daily this year will be the Indigenous Spirit Dancers in full regalia. You’ll also find our fascinating Native American Arts Market, traditional arts demonstrators, Indigenous foods, Haudenosaunee storytelling as told by Ronnie Reitter (Seneca) and Tonia Loran Galban (Mohawk),"hands-on" fun in the Wegmans Family Discovery Tent, free admission to the Seneca Art & Culture Center, guided trail walks, bark longhouse tours, and much more. 

ASL Interpretation provided at the main stage, throughout performances

Sponsored by The National Technical Institute for the Deaf (NTID), a college of Rochester Institute of Technology

Free parking and shuttle service is available from 9:45 am - 6:15 pm at Fireman's Field. Shuttle service runs every 10 -15 minutes. The shuttle will drop you off at the Seneca Art & Culture Center front entrance.

Parking at the Seneca Art & Culture Center parking lot is for Accessible Parking with Permit only. There will be a golf cart shuttle driving back and forth from this lot and the Seneca Art & Culture Center front entrance for those who cannot go up the sloped walking path to the SACC. Preferred parking at Ganondagan's multipurpose field will be available for current Friends of Ganondagan Members with their membership card (must have membership card with you). 

Directions to Victor Fireman's Field
Coming from Route 96 (Main St) turn onto Maple Ave/Rt 444, Fireman's Field is on the right across from St. Patrick's Church (turning after the Pedestrian Crossing sign)

Check out the 2023 design, Messenger Bird by Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan) which will be screen printed onsite at this year's festival! Bring your own white or light colored 100% cotton shirt to be screen printed. Don't have a shirt? Check out your local thrift shop!Sneak peak at the 2023 design Messenger Bird by Peter Jemison (Seneca, Heron Clan) which will be screen printed onsite at this year's festival! Bring your own white or light colored 100% cotton shirt to be screen printed. Don't have a shirt? Check out your local thrift shop!

Our Indigenous Music and Arts Festival is not possible without volunteers like you!

If you have the time, please sign up to volunteer. Positions needed include greeters, parking attendants, raffle attendants, hospitality, staffing for family activities in the Family Discovery Tent, volunteer check-in, recycling sorters, and flexible people able to act as extra hands and pitch in wherever needed. Sign-up today!

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/4090445a9ad23a5f85-volunteers2#/

For questions regarding volunteering please contact: aimee@ganondagan.org

"New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature."