The Perfect Holiday Gift!

Have you been wondering what to get a friend or business associate for New Year's? What about a Nationalities Council of Indiana calendar for 2011!

It's filled with photos of the ethnic organizations that make up the council (and stage the annual International Festival in the Indiana State Fairgrounds).

If one of them represents your ethnic heritage, great! If not, it's a reminder of the world in Indiana!

Groups featured are:
January: Barangay Club of Indiana (Filipino)
February: ATA-IN (Turkish)
March: Italian Heritage Society of Indiana
April: Indiana Partners of the Americas (Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil)
May: Estonian Society of Indianapolis
June: American Indian Center of Indiana (Native American)
July: Society for the Promotion of Persian Culture (Iranian)
August: Indiana State Association of Middle Eastern Teachers and Dancers
September: Indianapolis Latvian Community Center
October: Circle City Lodge of Sons of Norway
November: Czech and Slovak Society of Indiana
December: Taiwanese American Association of Indianapolis

(Yes, there are more than 30 other groups -- those selected for the 2011 calendar were drawn in a lottery!)

There are a few calendars left for holiday giving! Just send a check for $12 (payable to the Nationalities Council of Indiana) to NCI, PO Box 1623, Indianapolis, IN 46206, and we'll wing one out to you -- or to whomever you'd prefer it be delivered! If you enclose a gift card, we'll send that on as well.

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Indy’s Ethnic Heritage

"Indy’s Ethnic Heritage", the 15th annual genealogy conference, will be held from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 13 November in the Indianapolis Senior Center, 708 East Michigan Street, Indianapolis. It's sponsored by the Genealogical Society of Marion County.

Cost (which can be paid at the door) is $30. To register, send an email to GSMC-Indiana@Comcast.net.

Among the topics are Native Americans in Indy, German-American Landmarks of Indianapolis, Scottish and Scots-Irish in Indiana, Ethnic Populations of Indy and the Roman Catholic heritage of Indianapolis.

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PowWow This Weekend

The 15th Annual Gathering of the People (Native American) PowWow opens at 10 a.m. tomorrow and Sunday on the VCCC Club Grounds, 10382 Grotto Road, Terre Haute.

It's sponsored by Vigo County Conservation Club.

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Native American Heritage Days in Indy

Native American Heritage Days are 28 and 29 August 2010 in Garfield Park, 2345 Pagoda Drive, Indianapolis.

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Eiteljorg to Receive Museums For America Funding

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art is the recipient of a $150,000 Museums for America grant from The Institute of Museum and Library Sciences, reports Inside INdiana Business. The institution is one of three museums in Indiana to receive the award. The funding will support Project New Moon, a major initiative to develop the Eiteljorg into an active, sensory and engaging experience.

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Kelly Church at Eiteljorg Museum

Artist-in-residence through Saturday (5 December) at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Southwestern Art, 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis, is Kelly Church, a member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa (that's her strawberry basket, at left).

Church is a fifth-generation Black Ash basket weaver, and a Birch Bark Biter. She makes traditional, utilitarian baskets, as well as contemporary baskets, such as a woven checker game, baskets out of vinyl blinds and recently wove a basket out of copper. Kelly participates in art shows throughout the country and is very active in her community teaching how to harvest and process baskets and informing the public about the Emerald Ash Borer.

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Ethnic Fairs This Weekend

Greek, Native American, German, Scottish, French, Chinese -- "welcome to the world in Indiana isn't just a slogan this weekend: check out these ethnic festivals in the Hoosier heartland!

36th Annual Greek Festival, today and tomorrow; Carmel.
35th Annual (German) Oktoberfest, today and tomorrow; Indianapolis.
19th Annual French Market, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
18th Annual Scottish Festival, tomorrow and Sunday; Columbus.
2nd Annual Chinese Festival, tomorrow; Indianapolis.
Andersontown Powwow and Indian Market; tomorrow and Sunday; Anderson.

Don't forget Indy's International Festival, coming up in November!

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September is Ethnic Festival Month!

The glorious weather of September means more ethnic festivals than there's time to attend!

Some of those on the calendar are:

Oktoberfest sponsored by the German-American Klub, on Indiana State Fairgrounds, Indianapolis: 4, 5, 6, 11, 12 September

Little Italy Festival in Clinton: 4, 5, 6, 7 September

Kenya Festival at Second Presbyterian Church, Indianapolis: 5 September

Greek Festival at Holy Trinity Greek Orthodox Church, Carmel: 11-12 September

Chinese Festival in Military Park, Indianapolis: 12 September

French Market at St. Joan of Arc Roman Catholic Church, Indianapolis: 12 September

Scottish Festival at Bartholomew County Fairgrounds, Columbus: 12-13 September

Andersontown Powwow in Athletic Park, Anderson: 12-13 September

Irish Fest in Military Park, Indianapolis: 18-20 September

(Hispanic) Fiesta on the American Legion Mall, Indianapolis: 19 September

Scottish Highlander Festival in Trafalgar: 26-27 September

There are more details on these (and many other events) at the Nationalities Council's calendar: click here. (And, don't forget that Indy's International Festival is coming up in November!)

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Delaware Day at the Eiteljorg

No, not the state, but the Native Americans also known as the Lenape will be featured from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. tomorrow (1 August) at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis. Traditions, customs and lifeways are explored through drum and dance, frybread demonstrations, a woodlands camp, storytelling and more. Delaware elders and tribal historians Dee and Annette Ketchum, interpreter and historian Mike Pace will show the traditional and contemporary world of the Delaware.

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17th Annual Indian Market and Festival

The 17th Annual Indian Market and Festival is set for 27 and 28 June at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Southwestern Art in White River State Park, downtown Indianapolis.

Nearly 130 Native American artists from across the country will be in Indianapolis to sell their art. The market and festival includes performances from Native American performers including storytellers, dancers and singers. There'll be traditional food and activities for children ranging from mask-making to corncob dart toss.

Entertainers include The Blue Stone Project,Michael Jacobs, Gene Tagaban (who's Cherokee/Tlingit/Filipino), David A. and David R. Boxley.

Tickets are $8 in advance and $10 at the gate; children 17 and under are admitted at no charge. For information, call 800:622-2024.

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A Gesture of Kinship: Photographs by Bruce Hucko

"A Gesture of Kinship" examines the photographic history of a group of Navajo people, documented by photographer Bruce Hucko. (The photo is from the exhibition.)

The exhibition features documentary photographs and insightful interviews with young Navajos coupled with additional photos and interviews with the same subjects 20 years later. Composites of these interactions offer a rarely-seen view of everyday life on the reservation, insights into what changes and what stays the same in the community, and a look at internal and external influences on a Navajo life.

Included with general admission to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, the exhibit runs through 5 July.

The Eiteljorg is located in Indy's White River State Park at 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis.

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Kaya, an American Girl, Comes to Eiteljorg Museum

Fans of American Girl dolls are making plans now to get to the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. 28 February.

The star will be Kaya, an American Girl doll with Nez Perce heritage. There'll be storytelling, games and activities inspired by Nez Perce culture.

Kids can:
* Visit the Plateau Gallery and learn about objects used by Kaya’s people.
* Hear a tale performed by Nez Perce storyteller Rosa Yearout, Eiteljorg Museum artist in residence.
* Play traditional games and make a stick dice game to take home.
* Participate in craft activities, like bead drilling.
* Enter for a chance to win one of three Kaya dolls that will be given away throughout the day.
* Discover American Girl books and other fun finds in the Eiteljorg Museum Store.

All activities are free with museum admission.

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Historic Prophetstown Loses Funding

"Hopes for a center documenting the American Indian culture of Tippecanoe County and Indiana may fade because starting today, revenue from the state's Native American license plate will be redirected from Historic Prophetstown to the Indiana Native American Indian Affairs Commission," reports The Indianapolis Star

"The private park instead will receive a cut from the Tippecanoe County innkeeper tax," writes Eric Weddle.

"The change was seen as a way of steering more resources toward American Indian needs, although the commission currently is inactive," Weddle says. "The $50,000 it would receive annually will be held in a trust until members of state tribes agree to join."

Native American Heritage Month Film Screening at IUPUI

The Right to Be will be screened at 4 p.m. in the Lower Level of Taylor Hall on the campus of Indiana University-Purdue University Thursday (20 November) as part of the celebration of Native American Heritage Month at IUPUI.

The film is a documentary of a Lakota woman's combating the media's misrepresentation of her tribe. In the film, she visits United Tribes Community College where students learn about their traditions, a Sioux Tribe Council's discussion on high unemployment rates, and a very private Sweat Ceremony held in her honor.

Indian Market

This weekend is the 16th annual Indian Market and Festival at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, White River State Park, Indianapolis. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. today (21 June) and tomorrow (22 June).

Jewelry, pottery, paintings, beadwork and carvings are featured, with items from more than 140 artists spanning 60 different Native American tribes.

Entertainers include Eagle Wings Pageant Dancers, Tony Showa (Navajo), Harvest Moon (Quinault), Pamyua and Harvest Moon. In addition, Jody Naranjo will give a pottery demonstration, and Tony Showa will demonstrate drum making.

Tickets at the gate are $10, with children 17 and under admitted free.

"Wounded Knee" Series at Eiteljorg

The Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art has a film series this month on the Wounded Knee massacre in 1890. First up is "The Ride to Wounded Knee", described as a searing documentary on the last armed conflict between the Dakota Sioux and the United States, which resulted in the deaths of more than 146 men, women and children. You can see it at 2 p.m. Saturday (5 January) at the museum, 500 West Washington Street, Indianapolis. Charge for the film only is $5, or you can attend as part of the museum admission price. Other films are 12 and 19 January, with a symposium on the topic scheduled for 26 January.

"Indians Indians" -- East Meets West in Indy

East meets West at the Garfield Park Arts Center, 2432 Conservatory Drive, Indianapolis, during a unique event beginning at 6 p.m. Friday (7 December).
The India Association of Indianapolis and the Arts Center will present a program combining artistic and cultural elements from Native American and Eastern Indian societies through a celebration of fine art, photography, regalia & customary dress, music and dance. The exhibit will feature works by renowned architect and artist K.P. Singh, contemporary Eastern Indian artist Gautam Rao, and cultural documentary photography by Chris Pehlivan. Enjoy a performance featuring world-renowned Miles Davis’ veteran tabla player Badal Roy (pictured) and former Paul Simon bandmember, flutist Steve Gorn. Native-American Pow-Wow dancers will join Eastern Indian musicians for a once-in-a-lifetime performance for the entire community. And, it's all open to the public at no charge!