In 2010, we are expanding the Native Circle from a one-day to a two-day festival on

May 29 & 30, 2010, from 12-5pm each day,

at Mexico Point State Park, Mexico NY.

The Native Circle also has the opportunity to bring Eagle & Hawk, an international, award-winning band from Winnipeg, Manitoba, to the 2010 Native Circle festival. Eagle & Hawk’s music takes the lead in defining the genre of contemporary Indigenous music. By blending inspired vision with musical talent, Eagle & Hawk have created a progressive style of ‘rock’ steeped in roots, fusion, and solid songwriting that continues to earn fans – and loads of fanfare – worldwide.

To date, the band has received three dozen nominations and wins at awards ceremonies across North America. Their latest CD, Sirensong, recently received the 2009 Native American Music Award for Best Rock Album. They have also just been invited to perform at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia!

¨       Eagle & Hawk will share their “music with a message.”  “My vision is to share the splendor and distinct performance culture of our music with the world,” says Vince Fontaine, founder and bandleader of Eagle & Hawk.

¨       Ray “Co-Co” Stevenson will perform with Eagle & Hawk as well as giving workshops about the power of the traditional hand-drum to empower youth to get on the right path.

¨       Corn Bred will share their award winning music with festival goers.

¨       Annawon Weeden will share stories, games, and activities from the Eastern Woodland Nations.

¨       Vicky Shenandoah will bring her Interactive Iroquois Social Dance Troupe

 ¨       The Thunder Hawk Singers will share their award winning traditional Mi’kmaq songs with the public. Vannah’s signature song, Cherokee Amazing Grace, is a favorite of festival goers, and is the closing prayer of the Native Circle. 

¨       With activities that excite people of all ages, The Storytellers teach respect for animals, plants, and everything in nature, through their award-winning traditional Native American stories.

¨       Sacred Winds will again delight visitors with melodious flute playing and vocals.

¨       Ms. Vannah’s Totem Spirits workshops is designed to provide an alternative way for youth and adults to learn to embrace who they are, empower their innate potential, and express what they have to offer the world in order to make it a better place.

¨       Continue to include Nancy Kaiser’s Wild Spring Edibles program which shows festival goers how to cook what nature provides. Her Nature Walk is a very popular event.

¨       Alf Jacques, from the Onondaga Nation, who would teach about the Native American origins of Lacrosse while involving children and adults in a demonstration Lacrosse game

¨       The Children’s activity tent will include educational activities such as painting “spirit rocks”, learning traditional Native American Beadwork, and making bracelets.

¨       The Storytellers will also provide a tent where both youth and adults can get don authentic Native dress as well as educating attendees on the significance of the clothing.

¨       Richard Lacrosse and his wife will return to build a bigger wigwam encampment with two wigwams and demonstrations on how they were built. They will include children’s activities such as how to use birch bark for drawings.

¨        The Salmon River International Sport and Fishing Museum will provide walk-ins displays of the museum’s memorabilia.

¨       Tracy Lindowski of Narrow-Gate Farms will have hands-on demonstration of the many stages wool takes to become a usable product. Children and adults alike would be able to ‘card wool’, use the spinning wheel and the inkle loom, a favorite of festival attendees this past year.

Visitors to this festival will receive a very ‘real’ experience of Indigenous ways of life through song, storytelling, dance, and interactive educational programs. By sharing in and exploring those differences we are able to experience the common threads that unite us.

The addition of these diverse and talented performers and presenters will increase the quality of our programming and encourage youth and adults in our area to attend the Native Circle creating a more interactive educational environment.