MPRB Announces August 2nd Ówamni: Falling Water Festival

Via a July 21 e-newsletter from the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board:

Free Family Event on August 2 – Ówamni: Falling Water Festival

Join us on Saturday, August 2 from 2 p.m. until dark at Father Hennepin Bluffs Park for Ówamni: Falling Water Festival. This new one day free event celebrates indigenous Minnesota culture with music, art, food, a movie under the stars and more.

Music

Ówamni will celebrate indigenous voices, connecting both locally and nationally through music featuring Chase Manhattan, Tall Paul, Bluedog, Wade Fernandez, Scatter Their Own, and Keith Secola. For more information on the music line-up, please contact Jewell Arcoren (612- 385-7528) or Denise Nelson (612-205-1682).

Art

An arts fair area focused on American Indian contemporary traditional and fine arts will showcase the talents of Anishinaabe, Hochunk, and Dakota visual artists. Woodland style painter Gordon Coons will exhibit his paintings and prints alongside painters James Autio, and Karen Savage-Blue. Dakota textile artist Gwen Westerman and other indigenous artists including Doug Limon, Pat Kruse, Melanie Sainz, and James Simas will be featured. Traditional artists Cheryl Minnema, Pat Kruse, and Denise Lajimodiere will demonstrate beadwork and birchbark traditions of the Anishinaabe. Original art, prints, cards, baskets and other items will be for sale by the artists.

The Sioux Chef and Native Food Perspective will both be making and selling local indigenous foods.

Outdoor Movie: The Jingle Dress (test screening)

Filmed in Minnesota, this movie was produced by William Eigen. The story line follows John Red Elk who pulls up stakes and takes his family off the reservation and down to the big city to find out how his long lost Uncle Norton died. Through the fresh eyes of his eight year old daughter, Rose, we follow the family as they discover a new, urban culture and gain insight into their own ancient, indigenous society.

This event is made possible by a grant from the St. Anthony Falls Heritage Board. Events partners include the Minneapolis Park & Recreation Board, Minnesota Historical Society, and Dream of Wild Health, with help from media sponsor KFAI 90.3 Fresh Air Radio.

Live Music

Secola – Rock/Folk

Keith Secola is Anishinaabe. He is an icon and ambassador of Native music. He is one of the most influential artists in the field today. Keith is a songwriter of the people. Critics have dubbed him as the Native versions of both Neil Young and Bruce Springsteen. A seven-time Native American Music Award winner, Secola has earned NAMMYs not only for his music, but also his abilities as a producer, to include The Best Linguistic Recording for producing ANISHINABEMOIN (2007).

Scatter Their Own - Alternative Rock

Scatter Their Own is an alternative rock duo of Oglala Lakota ancestry from the Pine Ridge Reservation of South Dakota. They are currently ranked in the top 40 by “Buzz Rating” in the battleofthebands.com competition.

Tall Paul – Hip-Hop

Tall Paul of the Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe is an accomplished Hip Hop/Rapper performing artist from Minneapolis. His bilingual Ojibwe-English hit single titled "Prayers in a Song" garnered more than 200,000 YouTube views in the first two weeks.

Chase Manhattan – Hip-Hop

Chase Manhattan is an award nominee Hip Hop/Rapper performing artist and CEO of Shanob Entertainment based out of the Twin Cities. His music is influenced by his big brother and native roots: Oglala, Anishinaabe and Muscogee Creek.

Bluedog – Blues/Rock

Bluedog is an award winning band from Minneapolis and was the Native American Music Award Winner for Group of the Year (2010). In July of 2010, Bluedog's single "Get Up, Get Out" was nominated for best blues recording for the Indian Summer Music Awards.

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).