The proverb goes: Never judge a man until you've walked two moons in his moccasins.
Chet Susslin / The Citizen
On the cover: Wells College student Kealy Whiting holds up a bucket while classmate Hayley Otterness drops some picked raspberries in at the Cayuga SHARE farm on Tuesday.
On the cover: Wells College student Kealy Whiting holds up a bucket while classmate Hayley Otterness drops some picked raspberries in at the Cayuga SHARE farm on Tuesday.
The Peachtown Native American Festival will last only one day, Saturday, Sept. 19, but will give a glimpse into the music, dance and culinary traditions of the people who first inhabited the Finger Lakes region.
The festival intentionally falls at the end of harvest and the anniversary of the Clinton-Sullivan campaign of European settlers, who destroyed the Cayuga-owned orchards of 1,500 peach trees, for which Aurora was originally named Peachtown.
The event is intended to educate the public about local tribes, including the Haudenosaunee and Cayuga tribes, said organizer and Wells College professor Ernie Olson. But the festival is also a chance to bridge the gap between history and present, tribes and non American Indians.
“Everyone is well aware that there has been and continues to be some differences over land claims, gas stations, taxation. Because of that, we feel that there's an important place for a community space where everyone can maybe leave those differences aside,” Olson said. “Meet, greet and learn a little bit about local culture.”
The day-long festival of cultural celebration, sponsored by Wells College, the Cayuga/SHARE farm, Cornell University American Indian Program and Ithaca College, will include traditional flute playing, storytelling, and social dances.
Many of the dances will be well-known, some will have local origins and all will be social, distinct from ceremonial, Olson said, “which means everyone is invited up to try out dances that are challenging enough, but easy enough that anyone can just join the circle.”
Vendors from local tribes will sell handmade jewelry, wood work and pottery.
New to the festival this year is a lacrosse demonstration. The sport now played by hundreds of high school and college varsity teams originated as an American Indian game, Olson said.
The day's festivities will continue at the Cayuga/SHARE farm, run by the Cayuga Indian Nation. More dancing will take place, as well as more eating.
A potluck picnic dinner will put plates of modern picnic fare, hamburgers and hot dogs, next to traditional American Indian dishes, including corn soup and farm-grown peaches.
“It is reflecting on the importance of tradition,” Olson said. “But it's also a contemporary good time.”
Sarah Gantz
253-5311 ext. 237
sarah.gantz@lee.net
If you go.
What: Peachtown Native American Festival
When: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: Wells College, 170 Main St., Aurora
Cost: Free
Info: Call 364-3330 or visit www.wells.edu
The festival intentionally falls at the end of harvest and the anniversary of the Clinton-Sullivan campaign of European settlers, who destroyed the Cayuga-owned orchards of 1,500 peach trees, for which Aurora was originally named Peachtown.
The event is intended to educate the public about local tribes, including the Haudenosaunee and Cayuga tribes, said organizer and Wells College professor Ernie Olson. But the festival is also a chance to bridge the gap between history and present, tribes and non American Indians.
“Everyone is well aware that there has been and continues to be some differences over land claims, gas stations, taxation. Because of that, we feel that there's an important place for a community space where everyone can maybe leave those differences aside,” Olson said. “Meet, greet and learn a little bit about local culture.”
The day-long festival of cultural celebration, sponsored by Wells College, the Cayuga/SHARE farm, Cornell University American Indian Program and Ithaca College, will include traditional flute playing, storytelling, and social dances.
Many of the dances will be well-known, some will have local origins and all will be social, distinct from ceremonial, Olson said, “which means everyone is invited up to try out dances that are challenging enough, but easy enough that anyone can just join the circle.”
Vendors from local tribes will sell handmade jewelry, wood work and pottery.
New to the festival this year is a lacrosse demonstration. The sport now played by hundreds of high school and college varsity teams originated as an American Indian game, Olson said.
The day's festivities will continue at the Cayuga/SHARE farm, run by the Cayuga Indian Nation. More dancing will take place, as well as more eating.
A potluck picnic dinner will put plates of modern picnic fare, hamburgers and hot dogs, next to traditional American Indian dishes, including corn soup and farm-grown peaches.
“It is reflecting on the importance of tradition,” Olson said. “But it's also a contemporary good time.”
Sarah Gantz
253-5311 ext. 237
sarah.gantz@lee.net
If you go.
What: Peachtown Native American Festival
When: 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 19
Where: Wells College, 170 Main St., Aurora
Cost: Free
Info: Call 364-3330 or visit www.wells.edu
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