Native American artists will be in the Levitt at the Falls spotlight at the inaugural Mitakuye Owas’iƞ festival.
Mitakuye Owas’iƞ means "All My Relatives" in Dakota. Two days of festivities begin July 7 at 7 p.m. on the main Levitt stage in downtown Sioux Falls.
On Friday night hip-hop musician Gabriel Night Shield will open for featured artists Frank Waln. Waln will perform alongside traditional hoop dancers.
Saturday’s events will include traditional dances, singing and puppeteering performance by Jackie Bird at 10:30 a.m., a fashion show featuring the work of Native American clothing designers, make-up artists and hair designers at 2 p.m. and a panel discussion on Oceti Sakowin language at 12:30 p.m.
All My Relatives Festival activities will also be available in the parking lot behind the Levitt Shell and in the neighboring Startup Sioux Falls and Rehfeld’s Underground venues throughout Saturday.
At 11 a.m. Saturday an All My Relatives art show featuring fine art from regional Native American artists will be hosted at Rehfeld’s Art & Framing Underground. A children’s area featuring STEM activities from the South Dakota Afterschool Network, Lakota hand games and activities from the 605 Art bus will be available in the parking lot behind the Levitt from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Saturday will also feature concessions from Native-owned food truck, Buffalo Gals and a vender fair at the Startup Sioux Falls porch and Marketbeat Theatre.
Musician Kobe Jordan will open for Saturday’s final performance by blues-rock band Indigenous.
This inaugural All My Relatives festival is sponsored by South Dakota State University’s Wokini Initiative. Sarah Bad Warrior-Vrooman, Director of Wokini and Tribal Relations at SDSU, said the goal of the initiative is to collaborate with Native youth.
“The partnership between Wokini and the Levitt is important for supporting and inspiring our Native youth by bringing a celebration of Native culture and artistry to youth and families in the Sioux Falls region,” said Bad Warrior-Vrooman
The Executive Director of the Levitt at Sioux Falls, Nancy Halverson, said the goal of the SDSU program aligns with the nonprofit’s mission.
“We are grateful to the Wokini Initiative for their partnership and support of the All My Relatives Festival, which is an important program to advance our mission of building community through music,” said Halverson.
