Native American Cultural Festival

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Performances and Activities FREE and Open to the Public

Celebrate and honor the art, dance, and music of Native Americans from across the country. Experience a variety of longstanding traditions revealed in today’s artistic expressions.

Program is subject to change.

Programs

Live Music & Dance Performances

Haskell Indian Nations University Dancers Performances accompanied by the drumming and singing of Young Buffalo Horse

10:15–11:30 am & 3:30–3:45 pm

Kirkwood Hall

10:15 a.m. | Grand Entry, Haskell Indian Nations University Veterans Color Guard

Enjoy diverse styles of Native American dance performed by students from Haskell Indian Nations University from Lawrence, Kansas accompanied by the Young Buffalo Horse Singers.

Story Time at the Tipi

11:45 am–12:15 pm | North Lawn Plains Indian Tipi

Children’s Intertribal Round Dance

12:15–12:30 pm | North Lawn by Plains Indian Tipi

Children and accompanying adults are invited to join in the dance with members of the Kansas City Indian Center.

Dance Performance & Live Music

12:30-1:15 pm | Atkins Auditorium

Watch Native American dance by the Royal Valley Dancers of Prairie Band Potawatomi from Mayetta, Kansas, accompanied by the drumming and singing of Young Buffalo Horse Singers.

Regalia & Stories about Ceremonial Dress

12:30–12:50 pm & 1:30–1:50 pm

Lens 2

Learn from lead dancers from Haskell Indian Nations University as they share stories about the regalia worn for selected dances.

Ongoing Activities & Demonstrations

10 am–4 pm (except where noted)

Meet and Greet, & Games

Participate in informal discussions about Native American culture with staff and volunteers from Haskell Indian University Alumni Association and the Kansas City Indian Center. Play games and view a book display from the Kansas City Indian Center collection.

Discussions with Docents & Museum Guides

Galleries 208 & 209, Nelson-Atkins Building

Learn about selected objects in the museum collection.

Art Activity

Classrooms 3, 4 & 5

Decorate a luggage tag inspired by your favorite place or your travels throughout the museum.

Library Coloring Activity

1–4 pm

Spencer Art Reference Library

Color your own bookmark and discover a special book display to learn about Native American Art.

Plains Indian Tipi

North Lawn

Visit the Plains Indian Tipi painted by Gros Ventre artist Chandler Good Strike.

Learn More

1–4 p.m. | Educator Resource Center, Nelson-Atkins Building

Explore resources about Native American art and culture, with a particular focus on Plains Indians.

Artist Demonstration

1–4 pm | Gallery 208, Nelson-Atkins Building

Watching Patricia Nelson of the Standing Rock Sioux demonstrate loom work and beading.

Food for Purchase

Rozzelle Court Restaurant

11 am–3 pm

Enjoy signature salads, sandwiches, breads, and desserts.

Desserts and beverages served until 4 pm.

Bloch Lobby

11 am–4 pm 

Purchase Native American-inspired menu items.