We welcome Dennis Yerry, Even Pritchard, Shelli Lipton, Nathan Koenig of the Woodstock Museum And The Red Feather Drummers & Educators
We will be showing the film "Iroquois Power for the 21st Century" throughout the day.
This film is a seven-episode extravaganza exclusively from the Iroquois point of view. In 1978, filmmaker Nathan Koenig heard and captured the most powerful mindful speech at the Cathedral of St. John of the Divine in New York City. The orator was Onondaga faithkeeper Oren Lyons. When Woodstock Museum founder Shelli Lipton was introduced to the speech, she joined the effort to learn about the Haudenosaunee, a.k.a. Iroquois, governing under the Great Law of Peace, the confederacy of Five Nations who agreed to stop warring among themselves and achieve a new paradigm of peace. Nathan and Shelley followed their instinct, expanding the film with Iroquois scholars, historians, and imagery collected via museums, libraries, and private collections to add visual power by conveying the story without outstanding visuals.
Dennis Yerry is a Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) composer and the founder of The Hawk Project. He was musical director, composer, and performer for the American Indian Dance Theatre; for the theatrical production of Black Elk Speaks in Denver, CO, and L.A.; and the Native American Day of Thanksgiving at the Cathedral of St. John the Divine in NYC and the outdoor drama, Unto These Hills in Cherokee, NC.. He is featured in Ken Burn'’ documentaries, Lewis and Clark and The West as well as other film, TV, and CD credits.
Learn More About Dennis Yerry.
Evan Pritchard, author of over 50 books on Native American culture and history, is also well known as a musician. He often performs on cedar flutes and the "sweet potato" flute, and sings traditional drum songs of many nations. He is also a singer-soingwriter and plays guitar and sings in various styles around the Woodstock area. He will be available to sign books and also his one hour CD "Riversong."
Learn More About Woodstock Museum: https://woodstockmuseum.com/
The Red Feather Drummers and educators will be performing during intermission
The Red Feathers today and for the next seven generations.
Today, women drum, sing, and dance alongside men.
They share traditions with spirit, strength and and wisdom-connecting past and future.
The Red Feathers are women of native descent who share culture through traditional drumming and dance, displays of handmade crafts and artifacts.
They present in diverse settings such as schools, historical societies, libraries, churches, environmental, and retreat centers and senior centers are connected with the Association of the Native Americans of the mid-Hudson Valley, active since the 1970s.
A red feather in native culture symbolizes bravery, strength, courage, spirituality, and the freedom to be your true self.
The Red Feathers will be represented by grandmother, Judith Laughing Owl- Eastern Band Cherokee-Keeper of the Women's Drum and Songs, and Janet Me-Too Laughing Eyes/Canadian Band Ojibwe & Mohawk, program coordinator
Schedule (subject to change based on the needs of the facilitators and flow of the day):
12:00 Opening with Thanksgiving address
12:45 Film begins
2:45 Break/Snacks
3:15 Red Feather Drumming presentation
4:00 Film continues
Followed by Q&A with the filmmakers
Suggested Donation of $20 or more appreciated. (In advance or pay at the door).
Learn More about Festival of Awakening:
The Woodstock Center for Awakening welcomes you to join us for our annual Woodstock Festival of Awakening, Friday, August 8th through Sunday, August 10th, 2025. Enjoy this weekend of music, seeds of realization, and the healing arts from the bottom to the top of the town of Woodstock, NY, with a big Saturday gathering at Bearsville Park. This year, we will carry intact the spirit and established pattern and rhythm of the 2023 and 2024 Festivals.
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Join us on Saturday, August 9th, for Cannabis, Cacao & Kirtan Ceremony
Attendees will be treated to a special ceremony for the conscious community, featuring medicine music and Kirtan led by a renowned guest artist Mirabai Moon, alongside Stefanie Frank, the NEST founder. In our Cannabis Ceremony and Kirtan, we will connect as a community with a Talking circle & share in a respectful way with this beautiful femenine plant ally without smoking.