The Briscoe Western Art Museum kicks off Native American Heritage Month with its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival on Saturday, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. The free event celebrates the rich history of thousands of years of Indigenous cultural practice through art, music, dance, cuisine, storytelling and more.
Festival attendees will enjoy free admission to the museum and its permanent collection of Western art and artifacts, as well as rotating exhibitions that feature the stories of the American Indian, pioneering men and women and other groups who helped define the American West.
“Celebrating the traditions, crafts and art of our Native American communities helps illustrate a key component of the American West — and of American history,” said Liz Jackson, president and CEO of the Briscoe. “Native American culture has had a profound impact on American culture, shaping various aspects such as art, music, spirituality, culinary, and even fashion.”
Archeological records of our area suggest that migratory indigenous people frequented the headwaters of the San Antonio River as early as 12,000 years ago. The Payaya, whose domain once stretched from what is now South Texas to northern Mexico, settled around the headwaters some 10,000 years ago and called it Yanaguana, or “Land of the Spirit Waters.” Fittingly, the Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival celebration takes place along this very same waterway.
Jackson explained how indigenous culture has shaped and continues to influence our country. “Indigenous peoples introduced corn, beans, and squash, known as the ‘Three Sisters.’ These foods remain a foundation to many American dishes,” she said. “In fashion, Native American textiles and patterns continue to inspire modern clothing designs, while the craft of jewelry—particularly the use of turquoise and silver—have become iconic to American style. This rich heritage and deep impact on our culture deserves to be showcased and we’re honored to share the day with everyone.”
The festival provides a backdrop for families to enjoy a day of learning, creativity and celebration.
Performers and participants in this year’s festival reflect the vast diversity of Indigenous groups in the U.S. Notable performers include flautist Tim Blueflint Ramel, a Lake Superior Chippewa; the Chikashsha Hithla dance troupe, made up of Chickasaw, Choctaw, Seminole and Creek who perform in multiple mediums including song, storytelling and Stomp dancing; and George Curtis Levi, who works in ledger art, an art form created by the Cheyenne that repurposes federal record books to depict scenes of everyday Indigenous life. Levi is a member of the Southern Cheyenne tribe in Oklahoma, with additional ancestral ties to the Arapaho and Oglala Lakota communities.
Also scheduled to appear are Shane Hendren, a turquoise expert and a Diné/Navajo jewelry maker, Kevin Horace Quannie, a Hopi/Navajo contemporary artist and Chase Kahwinhut Earles, a renowned Caddo artist whose exquisite pottery embodies a refined style that first appeared thousands of years ago.
Free event registration and a full schedule are available on the Briscoe Museum’s website.
