2nd annual Anishinaabe Art Festival celebrates Indigenous culture, arts
3 min read
BEMIDJI — The second annual Anishinaabe Art Festival returned to town on Friday, July 21, and will run through Saturday, July 22, with the objective to celebrate the rich culture and history of Indigenous people through their artwork.
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Held at the Sanford Center, the two-day event plays host to a wide variety of authentic creations such as Indigenous art, traditional food tastings, child-friendly activities and demonstrations along with an array of cultural entertainment.
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Friday’s events started at 1 p.m. with a traditional opening ceremony, a whole slew of vendors and a live music performance by Doyle and Steve Turner.
Saturday’s events will kick off at 10 a.m. with a beadwording demonstration with Martina Isham, a mask-making demonstration with Logan Monroe and a hand drum construction with Rodney Northbird.
Following shortly afterward at 11 a.m., author Marcie Rendon will be hosting a book reading and signing and Andreas Nordrum will be hosting a blacksmithing demonstration.
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Continuing into the afternoon, Steve Turner will perform at 1 p.m., Sharon Nordrum will be showing attendees how to make pine needle baskets at 2 p.m. and afterward at 3 p.m., the Sampson Brothers will perform a hoop dance along with Deanna Croaker with a quilt demonstration.
“We are here to celebrate Native arts,” event organizer Joe Allen said. “We just wanted to provide a space where the whole community can come in and enjoy, and hopefully buy things, to stimulate our creative economy.”
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi Fellerman / Bemidji Pioneer
Maggi is a reporter at the Bemidji Pioneer focusing on outdoor and human interest stories. Raised in Aitkin, Minnesota, Maggi is a graduate of Bemidji State University’s class of 2022 with a degree in Mass Communication.
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