2013 Season highlights Iroquois White Corn Project, new film, and annual events
Victor, NY— Opening weekend for the 2013 season at Ganondagan State Historic Site on Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5 is packed with cultural, recreational, and culinary opportunities for visitors—a harbinger of this year’s rich programming presented by the Friends of Ganondagan.
Saturday morning, May 4 begins with volunteers through New York State’s “I Love My Park Day” sprucing up the grounds around the Visitors Center and Bark Longhouse. At 2:00 pm, a wooden stick lacrosse demonstration is followed by an informal game. Participation is open, and all are welcome to bring their own sticks, although wooden sticks will be available for use.
Sunday morning, May 5 begins with a corn mush-making demonstration from 10:30 am–12 at the longhouse. Visitors will have a hands-on experience and learn the steps needed to make this traditional food (similar to oatmeal). At 1:30 pm, the focus turns to archery with “The Bent Stick,” a practical guide to Northeast Woodlands archery. The history of this iconic weaponry will be shared and hands-on demonstrations will be offered. Opening weekend hours are 10 am-5 pm, with longhouse tours from 10 am-4:30 pm. Site admission is $3/adults, $2/students and seniors.
In May and June, corn continues to be front and center thanks to Ganondagan’s Iroquois White Corn Project with two new “Corn & Community” events centering on creation, cosmology and cooking (dates TBA). On Thursday, June 27, Ganondagan hosts theRochester premiere of Bury My Heart with Tonawanda at the Memorial Art Gallery. The film tells the fictional story of John Harrison, a developmentally disabled boy rejected by his own family but accepted and nurtured by the Tonawanda Seneca Nation. Written, edited, and produced by Adrian Esposito, himself on the autism spectrum, Bury My Heart with Tonawandais directed by Gary Sundown from the Tonawanda Indian Reservation.
Ganondagan’s annual events continue with the popular seven-mile Old Goat Run; the 22nd Native American Dance & Music Festival with “Lord of the Strings” violinist Arvel Bird and Genie- and NAMMY-winning singer songwriter Jennifer Kreisberg as the scheduled headliners; the Native American Lecture Series in the Fall, “Adoption & Adaptation”—a collaboration with the Center for Service-Learning and the Department of Religious Studies at Nazareth College; the Living History event—a re-enactment of French explorer Robert LaSalle’s 1669 visit to the Seneca; the historic Canandaigua Treaty Day; and the Native American Winter Games & Sports. A chronological event calendar follows:
2013-14 Chronological Calendar of Programming and Activities
MAY
1 Ganondagan State Historic Site Opening Day (10 am-5 pm)
4 Opening Weekend: Wooden Sticks lacrosse demonstration and game (2 pm)
5 Opening Weekend: Corn mush-making demonstration at Longhouse, (10:30 am-noon); and The Bent Stick, story and demonstrations of woodland style archery (1:30-3:30 pm)
TBA "Corn & Community": Haudenosaunee Creation, Cosmology and Corn, at Farmhouse
JUNE
TBA "Corn & Community": Making traditional cornbread and cornhusk dolls, at Farmhouse
27 Bury My Heart with Tonawanda, Rochester film premiere, at Memorial Art Gallery
29 Old Goat Run (begins at 9 am); seven-mile cross country race at Site
JULY
27-28 22nd Annual Native American Dance & Music Festival (10 am-6 pm)
SEPTEMBER
26 Native American Lecture Series #1: “Adoption & Adaptation” (7-9 pm), at Nazareth College, Shults Center
28 Annual Living History Event (10 am-4 pm), historical re-enactment of French explorer LaSalle’s visit to the Seneca in 1669
OCTOBER
24 Native American Lecture Series #2: “Adoption & Adaptation” (7-9 pm), at Nazareth College, Shults Center
NOVEMBER
11 Annual Canandaigua Treaty Day
21 Native American Lecture Series #3: “Adoption & Adaptation” (7-9 pm), Nazareth College, Shults Center
FEBRUARY 2014
22 Annual Native American Winter Games & Sports Event (10 am-4 pm)
All program dates and times are subject to change. Visit www.ganondagan.org/events.html or call (585) 742-1690. Ganondagan State Historic Site is located at 1488 State Route 444 in Victor. Most, but not all, activities take place at the Site. Programming and events are a combination of fee-based and free, with some pre-registration required.
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Note: Interviews and photos are available on request.
Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, NY stands at the location of what was one of the largest, most vital 17th-century Seneca towns until its destruction in 1687. Today, it is a destination for visitors to explore the authentic replica of a bark longhouse and hunting lodge and enjoy self-guided tours through 560+ acres of trails. It also acts as a resource for students and educators about the Iroquois Confederacy, or Haudenosaunee, and its message of peace. Every summer, Ganondagan’s Native American Dance & Music Festival brings more than 4,000 people from all over the world. Friends of Ganondagan hosts the annual Canandaigua Treaty Day and presents lectures, workshops, and programming reflecting the vibrancy of a living culture and promoting a sustainable future. Visit www.ganondagan.org.
