Native American Heritage Festival

Celebrate the rich Indigenous cultural history of Alabama. This free family-oriented festival features traditional Indigenous cuisine, storytelling, dance performances, various demonstrations from Indigenous makers across our state, gallery tours, art-making activities, animals presented by The Birmingham Zoo, and more family fun to immerse yourself into our region’s vibrant Native American culture! During your visit, check out two exhibitions celebrating Native heritage from ancient to modern times: Lost Realms of the Moundbuilders and Voices So True.

Schedule of Events:

10am – 2pm // Food tasting
Juanita Gardinski of the Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians will be making an assortment of indigenous dishes, including fry bread

10am – 2pm // Art Making
Inspired by the work of contemporary artist Starr Hardridge of the Moscogee Creek Nation, visitors can explore the technique of dot painting to create their own work of art.

10:30 – 10:45am // Storytelling
Amy Bluemel of the Chickasaw Nation and is widely known for her storytelling, artistry and dancing. She’ll share some of her language, history and culture through her exciting stories.

11 – 11:35am // Tour
Tour of contemporary Indigenous art with curator Dr. Emily Hanna and artist Olivia Collins

11am – 1pm // Live Animals
Birmingham Zoo will bring live animals for you to get to know in our outdoor sculpture garden

11:45am – 12pm // Storytelling
Amy Bluemel tells a tale about the live animals from the zoo

12:10 – 12:30pm // Dance performance
Lyndon Alec of the Alabama-Coushatta Tribe will perform Native American Hoop Dancing

12:40 – 1:40pm // Dance performance
Mystic Wind Choctaw Social Dancers who will be performing a traditional Choctaw Dance alongside the Southern Pine Pow Wow Dance Group.

1:45 – 2pm // Storytelling
Amy Bluemel entertains us with a final story in the Steiner Auditorium.