Entertainment - Festival anticipates second successful year

“The weather has so much to do with attendance,” Bruchac said.

Representatives from Iroquoian and Algonquian Nations including Mohawk, Oneida, Onondaga, Cayuga, Seneca, Tuscarora, Abenaki and Mohican will be sharing their traditions through song, dance, drumming and other presentations. Bruchac, who’s part Abenaki, said the two-day event will feature hundreds of dancers, as well as dozens of great storytellers, demonstrators and speakers.

The huge children’s activity area, a colorful smoke dance competition, traditional native foods and a veteran’s dance acknowledging anyone who’s ever served are sure to be some of most memorable slices of the festival experience. In addition, approximately 60 top-notch vendors will be selling handmade jewelry, clothing, art, baskets, beadwork, toys and other high quality crafts.

Folks can also look forward to live musical performances by Tonemah, Tomas Obomsawin, Roy Hurd, Dennis Yerry, the Akwesasne Women Singers and returning headliner Joanne Shenandoah.

“It’s a privilege to have her back again,” Bruchac said of the Grammy award-winning artist.

Bruchac believes the festival will draw people of all ages and interests, and called it a “very family-oriented event.”

“Everybody that went last year seemed to have a really great time,” he said. “It’s a chance to enjoy yourself and it’s a learning experience too.”

During the festival, a blanket dance will be done to raise money for Nina Greene, a member of the Tuscarora Nation, who suffered two unforeseeable cerebral aneurisms in August. After two surgeries and intensive care at Millard Fillmore Gates Circle, she is slowly recovering at a long-term care facility.

Greene’s husband, Orville, was originally set to emcee the Saratoga Native American Festival, but had to back out because of his wife’s health issues. Bruchac said Greene is a great emcee and they were sorry to lose him, but Nina’s getting well is the most important thing now.

Aside from the blanket dance at the festival, there will also be a benefit held for her on Saturday, Nov. 10, in Lewistown, near Niagara Falls. The charitable affair will take place from 3-10 p.m. at the Tuscarora Elementary School, and include a spaghetti dinner, raffles and traditional dancing.

Rene Rickard, one of the benefit’s coordinators, referred to Greene as a person who’s consistently gone above and beyond for others.

“Her first words were always ‘what can I do to help,’” Rickard said.

Since the organizers are working on almost a zero budget for the benefit, Rickard said any and all donations are critical and greatly appreciated. She is hoping that approximately 500 people attend the gathering for Greene.

Tickets are $10, and they will be available in advance. All proceeds from the benefit will go to Greene and her family for her health care needs.

Folks who’d like to help the Greene family should make their checks or money orders payable to Orville Greene. All donations are being sent to Nina Greene Benefit, c/o Rene Rickard, Tuscarora Nation, 2050 Upper Mountain Road, via: Sanborn, NY 14132.