Celebrate Indigenous Minnesota Cultures at July 30 Owámni: Falling Water Festival

Join us on Saturday, July 30, 2016 from 1 until 5 pm at Father Hennepin Bluff Park for Owámni: Falling Water Festival, a celebration of indigenous Minnesota cultures. Owámni is what the Dakota called the area at St. Anthony Falls. It means, “whirling or falling water” in the Dakota language, making it an appropriate name for this festival along the Mississippi River.

This free, family-friendly event, co-presented by the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and the St Anthony Falls Heritage Board, celebrates indigenous Minnesota culture with music, art, food, and more! Enjoy the many event offerings with the opportunity to try your hand at lacrosse; view and learn more about artifacts from the collection of the Minnesota History Center’s collection; picnic in the park with Native foods from Dream of Wild Health and other food vendors, and watch an amazing drum performance courtesy of the Twin Cities Based RedBone Singers.

Music

This event will feature some outstanding musical performances connecting both locally and nationally through music highlighted by Sonny Johnson, Wade Fernandez and Indigenous.

Art

An arts fair area focused on American Indian contemporary traditional and fine arts will showcase the talents of indigenous visual artists. Explore the arts area focused on American Indian contemporary traditional and fine arts. Hands on art opportunities will also be available.

Live Music

Sonny Johnson – singer/songwriter & Acoustic Artist

Sonny emerged into the Bemidji music scene in 2010 with a three piece band called “Book Of Matches”, with sonny on vocals and guitar. The band played music here and there around Bemidji, giving them a small following. But the trio quickly dispersed before a year had passed. Since then sonny has been playing music regularly as a solo acoustic artist around Bemidji, as well as other parts of northern MN.

Wade Fernandez – Blues/Rock

Wade Fernandez is from the Menominee nation of Wisconsin and is an award-winning vocals, guitar, songwriting, native flute & drumming. Wade is the winner of the National Community Spirit Award (2010), the North American ISMA award winner for “Best Contemporary Instrumental” and best “Country” (2007), NAMMY winner “Best Male Artist of the Year” (2006), and the Wordcraft Circle of Native Writers and Storytellers “Writer of the Year” (2001).

Indigenous – Blues/Rock

As one of today’s premier guitarists, Indigenous front man Mato Nanji has captivated audiences with his Vaughan and Hendrix-like prowess since coming on the scene with his family band’s award-winning debut album Things We Do in 1998. The blues world immediately took notice of the young native musicians from the Yankton Sioux Reservation in South Dakota: a spot on the 1999 B.B. King Blues Tour. Several Indigenous discs and musical collaborations later, Indigenous’ 10th release, Time Is Coming (Blues Bureau International) was released in May 2014. Nanji dedicates the cd to ‘the indigenous youth and all young people on the indigenous reservations’. Their incendiary on stage chemistry is innate.

Food

Tatanka Truck will be making and selling local indigenous foods along with NDN Bros.

 This event is made possible by a grant from the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board. Event partners include the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board, Minnesota Historical Society, and Dream of Wild Health.

 

Event Contact:

Tom Godfrey, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, 612 230 6484 or tgodfrey@minneapolisparks.org

Media Contact:

Robin Smothers, Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, 612-230-6410 or rsmothers@minneapolisparks.org