In 2004, the National Museum of the American Indian opened its doors in Washington, DC, in an occasion marked by a vibrant gathering of Native American communities on the National Mall. Now, 20 years later, the Smithsonian Folklife Festival celebrates that landmark anniversary with a six-day celebration from June 26 to July 1.
The Folklife Festival is a free, annual event held on the National Mall that dates back to 1967. This year, the theme “Indigenous Voices of the Americas: Celebrating the National Museum of the American Indian” showcases the many facets of traditional and modern Indigenous cultures throughout the Western Hemisphere, through music and dance, culinary demonstrations, traditional sports and games, a variety of art forms, and more.
As an anniversary celebration, the event is “all about returning to the relationships that the Smithsonian has held with tribal nations and other Indigenous communities over the years,” says festival curator Rebecca Fenton.
There will be over 200 participants, representing more than 40 Indigenous nations and nine countries. Some attendees include the Zuni Olla Maidens, a dance troupe from New Mexico; black-ash basket maker Kelly Church from Michigan; and Imilla Skate, an all-women skateboarding troupe from Bolivia.
“It would be impossible to represent everything that is going on in the Indigenous world, but [organizers strove] to really try to give a sense of the breadth and the great diversity of Indigenous experience,” Fenton says.
In addition to the festival’s usual spot on the National Mall, some programs will happen within the National Museum of the American Indian. It’s a great chance to grab a bite at the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe, which reopened in May after renovations.
Use the festival schedule to plan for events you don’t want to miss. (Many programs are recurring, but some concerts and special events are one-time-only.) Dress for the weather with sensible shoes for walking. And above all, come with an open mind.
“The artists who are coming are people who have a will to share what it is that they do and what issues are important to them,” Fenton says. “It’s intended to be a space for respectful exchange.”
Where: National Mall between Third and Seventh streets; National Museum of the American Indian: Fourth Street and Independence Avenue, SW, Washington, DC
When: June 26–July 1, 11 a.m.–5:30 p.m. Concerts at 6 p.m. on select evenings
Plan Ahead: No tickets required. Find the full schedule at festival.si.edu.
Feature image courtesy Smithsonian Institution
This story originally ran in our June issue. For more stories like this, subscribe to Northern Virginia Magazine.
