Native American culture, history, song, and dance come to the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site as Jordan and Kehala Smith arrive from Western New York to share stories about their culture, costuming, traditions, and engage guests in conversation about the past, present, and future of their people.
Jordan and Kehala will offer dance demonstrations at the site’s picnic pavilion and will also display culturally meaningful objects and materials, including woven baskets, slippery elm bark, wampum belts, and corn husk dolls.
Living history interpreters Jordan Smith (Mohawk, Bear Clan) and Kehala Smith (Tuscarora Nation, Turtle Clan) live on the Tuscarora Indian Reservation but travel the world to educate on Native American culture, history, song, and dance, from pre-contact to modern contemporary Indigenous culture with emphasis on historical material culture of the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries.
Jordan Smith teaches culture to students in the Niagara Wheatfield school district and is currently the head of Native education at Old Fort Niagara historic site. Kehala Smith, a fifth-generation bead worker, is the creator and designer of Kreations by Kehala, which features Native American beadwork, jewelry, clothing, and statement pieces.
She also serves as the assistant social dance teacher to the youth on the Tuscarora Reservation and is a Native American dance presentation coordinator and dancer.
This free event will take place at the Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site’s picnic pavilion on Hill Street in Sackets Harbor, NY on Friday, August 1st from 6:30 until 8 pm and Saturday August 2nd, from 10 am to 11:30 am.
Learn more about Sackets Harbor Battlefield State Historic Site at their website.
Photos of Jordan Smith and Kehala Smith provided.
