Atlanta Festival Returns, Celebrating Indigenous Cultures

Devi Wells — Thu, 16 Nov 2023 18:06:54 +0000

Atlanta, GA – The Second Annual First Voices Festival returns November 17-24, 2023. Events are family-friendly and everyone is welcome! Produced by 7 Stages in collaboration with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, Little 5 Points Business Association and Plaza Theatre.

To kick off a full weekend of complimentary events, 7 Stages hosts an evening of storytelling and music on November 17 with Muscogee (Creek) elder and fine flutemaker William Harjo. For over 25 years, Harjo has traveled the world telling stories, playing and selling his handmade flutes. He will also be at the PowWow in the following two days, performing and demonstrating his craft. The opening reception will feature sweet and savory frybread dishes and refreshments from Cherokee-owned Three Sisters Soulfood.

For two days, November 18-19, the soccer field in Little 5 Points will be filled with dancers, musicians, vendors, and visitors to the only PowWow in the city of Atlanta. Indigenous people of many backgrounds will gather in the field to represent their cultures. The PowWow features a dance competition, performances by drummers, flutists, singers, and a variety of goods crafted by Indigenous artisans.

To cap off the events of First Voices Festival, a special screening of Rumble: The Indians Who Rocked the World will be held at Plaza Theatre on November 24. This documentary shows the enormous influence Indigenous people have on Rock n’ Roll, using interviews and archival footage. Indigenous art and jewelry vendors will host a pre-show minimarket in the lobby of Plaza Theatre.

At 7 Stages, we honor the Muscogee (Creek) people and their ancestral land as our theatre has resided on this unceded land for over 44 years. While we produce content that spans nationally and internationally, it is essential for us to keep such inequities at the forefront of all that we do. We aim to honor these communities past, present and future through conversations, practices and programming that imagines and initiates what reparations can be in a variety of ways. As we examine our role in the arts community, we strive to shed light on colonialism and seek to create brave spaces for Indigenous voices, stories, and leadership. We include a land acknowledgement before all performances and tickets include a land use fee. The proceeds are donated to our Indigenous partners annually. Co-producing the First Voices Festival is part of our ongoing commitment to this work.

Vitals:

Storytelling with William Harjo

November 17, 2023 – Reception at 6:30 PM, Storytelling at 7:30 PM

Admission: Complimentary

Venue: 7 Stages

Venue Address: 1105 Euclid Ave NE Atlanta, GA 30307

Box Office #: 404-523-7647

Website: 7Stages.org

PowWow at First Voices Festival

November 18 and 19, 2023 – 10 AM to 5 PM

Admission: Complimentary

Venue: Little 5 Points