Ganondagan’s Indigenous Music & Arts Festival is a vibrant celebration of Indigenous cultures, held annually at Ganondagan State Historic Site in Victor, southeast of Rochester near Canandaigua. The festival began in 1989, just one year after Ganondagan was officially established as a New York State Historic Site.
Originally named The Anniversary of the Dedication of the Site of Ganondagan, the event was later renamed The Native American Dance & Music Festival. In 2019, it adopted its current name: Ganondagan’s Indigenous Music & Arts Festival.
In its early years, the festival was a one-day event, drawing just 200–300 attendees, with only one 40×40 tent and no volunteers. Today, it has grown into a two-day celebration that welcomes over 3,000 visitors and relies on the support of more than 125 volunteers.
The festival now features multiple tents, including a large performance tent, and includes 25–30 Native vendors, Indigenous and non-Native food vendors, art demonstrations, Haudenosaunee (Six Nations) dancers, contemporary Indigenous performers, storytellers, a Native Arts Market and children’s activities.
Festival Mission
Ganondagan’s Indigenous Music & Arts Festival is the site’s largest and longest-running event. Its mission aligns with that of the Friends of Ganondagan: to honor and promote Haudenosaunee history and culture, and to strengthen traditions through educational programming and community events. The festival fosters respect, understanding, and engagement between Native and non-Native communities by offering a welcoming space to interact with Haudenosaunee culture in meaningful ways.
Each year, the site hires approximately 20 Haudenosaunee and Indigenous performers and demonstrators. The festival highlights the diversity within Indigenous cultures, reinforcing that Native peoples are not a monolith. While many Indigenous cultures share common values, such as peace and stewardship of the earth, each has unique traditions, languages and artistic expressions.
“This festival is our biggest event of the year, and it fulfills the deeper purpose of this site as a place where the Indigenous future is built and the past is honored and explored,” said Michael Galban, Ganondagan State Historic Site Manager and Director of the Seneca Art and Culture Center at the site.
“Ganondagan is a place where Indigenous cultures are shared and connections are forged between visitors, artists, educators and performers alike. In addition to all the festival has to offer, our cultural center, longhouse and trails are open for exploration. We make admission to this event free of charge in order to welcome more people, and we invite the public to come to build new relationships and explore Indigenous culture.”
It’s our hope to make the festival accessible to as many people as possible. A few ways we do this is by offering free admission and including ASL interpretation at the main performance tent and having ASL interpreters available to accompany guests throughout the festival.
For many attendees, this event is their first introduction to Ganondagan and Haudenosaunee culture. It’s an opportunity to learn directly from Indigenous artists, storytellers and performers, and to see firsthand that these are living, evolving cultures that continue to thrive today.
What to Expect in 2025
This year’s festival offers something truly special: the return of the All Our Relations Tent, now in its second year. We are honored to welcome guest artists and performers from the Myaamiaki – Miami Tribe of Oklahoma, who will share cultural knowledge and creative works alongside Haudenosaunee artists.
This space encourages cross-cultural exchange and deeper understanding among Indigenous communities and our visitors.
We are also thrilled to feature Cayuga actor and musician Gary Farmer, known for his roles as Uncle Brownie in Reservation Dogs and appearances in Resident Alien, on the main performance stage. Joining him is award-winning Mohawk musician Derek Miller.
Other exciting additions include:
A Tradition of Culture, Community and Connection
Ganondagan’s Indigenous Music & Arts Festival is more than an event, it’s a summer tradition, and a deeply meaningful celebration of culture, resilience and community. We work year-round to plan a festival that is fun, educational and inspiring for all who attend.
We hope you’ll join us this July and leave with a deeper appreciation for the richness and vibrancy of Haudenosaunee and Indigenous cultures.
Ganondagan’s Indigenous Music & Arts Festival will take place on July 26 and 27, from 10 am until 6 pm at Ganondagan State Historic Site, 7000 County Road 41, in Victor, NY, in Ontario County.
Meg Joseph is Executive Director of Friends of Ganondagan. A version of this essay first appeared in the New York State Parks and Historic Sites Blog.
Photo: Ganondagan’s Indigenous Music and Arts Festival (provided by State Parks).
Source link
