One of the highlights of the Lewiston Art Festival each year is the Iroquois Art & Culture event. Hennepin Park, where the Gazebo and Fountain are located, is where you can see performances and the Iroquois Market.
Hennepin Park is always an oasis where people can sit and enjoy the gardens in Lewiston, NY. The park is filled with an enchanted crowd watching the Arts and Crafts presentations by original Iroquois Artists from all over New York State, with demonstrations of traditional Iroquois dancing by the Niagara River Iroquois Dancers. The photographs on this page are from the September 2019 Festival.
Arts and Crafts
The Iroquois Artisans demonstrated some of their creations. One of the artists, Jill Clause, also an Iroquois dancer, is pictured here making one of her unique corn husk dolls. Her doll creations are far from what you would ordinarily expect, as you can see from some of the dolls on display.
The detail on the Corn Husk Doll is considerable, and the art includes a few modern elements, like the wrench in the “Brave’s” belt in the above photo on the right.
Children visiting the festival joined in the dancing.
There are more photographs of dancing further down in this article.
The “Long Haus Of Lone”
Naquaqua and her mother, Faye Lone, are accomplished artists. Mother and daughter were chosen to display their fabric art at the Smithsonian Museum of Modern Art (MOMA). Find out more about the artistry at Long Haus of Lone in Basom, NY. “Long Haus Of Lone,“
The Niagara River Iroquois Dancers
getting ready to start their dance performances.
Presentations by the Niagara River Iroquois Dancers were spectacular. Along with the dances were several colorful explanations of Iroquois Culture and the meaning of the dances. I hope you will enjoy the following photographs as much as I enjoyed the performances.
The dancers wore the original dress similar to that worn by their ancestors, not costumes. There were many outstanding details and beautiful hand-stitched artful elements. In some cases, traditional items that jingled or made sounds as the dancers performed to the music were added. One interesting comment given was that, in most cases, the beautiful hand-stitched collars or other clothing items are lovingly and painstakingly made for the wearers by their elders. As such, the clothing in and of themselves is infused with their elders’ spirit. In most cases, the artful clothing made by an ancestor is passed down in the family. Treasured artifacts, for sure!
Another interesting fact about the Iroquois tradition is that women are considered the keepers of Culture. Their role has been quite expansive compared to other traditional societies in that they have always been intimately involved with their communities’ political, economic, and social aspects. They are also the teachers and leaders of the spiritual well-being of the tribe. Iroquois society is matrilineal, meaning that genealogical descent is traced through the mother rather than the father. As anyone of any spirituality knows, this can be hugely important and is present in almost any culture.
The Iroquois dances portray themes through gesture, movement, and expression.
Everyone is included, from elders to babes in arms. I wish you could hear the music in these photographs; although caught at the moment, they only portray the dance; next time, a video would be fun.
If I remember correctly, hearing explanations over the loudspeakers’, the Iroquois Confederacy was composed of several different Native American Tribes. They would meet and dance the Friendship Dance. The feathers in the headdresses differed for each tribe, so they could all recognize which tribe a person was from by the number and positions of the feathers.
The Iroquois Constitution was a forerunner to the American Constitution through its model of democratic principles. The Colonists embraced many such traditions, including the first Thanksgiving. The Iroquois Confederacy had operated using these principles since the 16th century. Chief Oren Lyons, an Onondaga and an Associate Professor of American studies at the State University at Buffalo, has mentioned that ‘some of the main ideas for the American Constitution were adopted from the Iroquois Confederacy.’ Individual rights and freedoms within the Confederacy were considered integral to the harmony and welfare of the whole.
The Niagara River Iroquois Dancers invited audience members to participate in several dances, and children were some of the first to join in. However, seeing them having so much fun, it was not long before many more joined, including me, camera in hand.
Many of the Niagara River Iroquois Dancers are children themselves!
Traditional Leggings, which Iroquois women and girls wear, have a very practical historical purpose. They protected the legs from being scratched by brambles in the woods.
It was common in the former days for community members to compete to show their dance proficiency and interpretation. Competitions are still held today; some shown here are of prize-winning dancers. Again, if my memory serves me correctly, I believe that at one time, only the boys could dance particular dances. Some dances were only for girls and women, while others were for boys and men. As the story goes, a young girl who wanted to show her skills dressed up as a boy and won a competition. Since then, both boys and girls can compete.
Near the end of the presentations, new dance leaders, or ‘callers,’ led the Friendship Dance.
about traditional Iroquois Arts and Culture
and both see firsthand and participate in the dances.
Joining Hands With Culture Enriches Us All
as they went around the audience circle as part of the Friendship Dance.
Overall, it was a delightful afternoon at the Lewiston Art Festival. Almost 200 artists had booths showcasing their art, each unique and interesting. There were food stalls, musicians, Mr. Bubble Wand, bubble blowers, and so many more amazing presentations; it was impossible to see them all in one day. I can’t wait to go again next year!
More Iroquois Artist Displays
“Sue’s Beading Heart” suesbeadingheartjewelry.com
Artist Desiree Henson,
of ‘Dezigns by Dez’
Specializing in Native American Crafts and Moccasins.
dezignsbydez18 at gmail.com
Please note: The author of this post has received no financial remuneration for mentions of creative people, books, products, places, or businesses mentioned in this post.
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Yes, it was a great weekend and I also hope the Native Market and beautiful presentations will be there for everyone to enjoy. Thanks for commenting, much appreciated.
Beautiful festival weekend for all. Looking forward to next year and hopefully they keep the Native Market in this perfect location. Everyone seemed to enjoy it. Thanks!
Thank you, it was a pleasure to see and attend. Many thanks for the work the Art Council does.
Thank you, Astoria Magazine, for this thoughtfully written article and beautiful photos! The Iroquois Market at the Lewiston Art Festival was indeed a highlight of the festival!!!!