National Museum of the American Indian Presents “Mvskoke Etvlwv: The Muscogee People Festival”

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Muscogee Creek Nation of Oklahoma present “Mvskoke Etvlwv: The Muscogee People Festival.” This three-day event will take place Friday, Nov. 14, through Sunday, Nov. 16. The festival will celebrate heritage, tribal history and culture of the Muscogee Creek Nation with performances, an art market and demonstrations from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily.

The celebration will include the event, a Dinner & A Movie: This May Be the Last Time, Saturday, Nov. 15, in the Rasmuson Theater at 7 p.m. The movie recounts when, in 1962, Pete Harjo mysteriously went missing after his car crashed on a rural bridge in Sasakwa, Okla. Members of the Seminole Indian community searched for him while singing songs of faith and hope that had been passed on for generations. This film premiered at the 2014 Sundance Film Festival in January. A discussion with director Sterlin Harjo (Seminole/Creek) will follow the presentation.

A special play will be presented throughout the festival at 2 p.m. daily in the Rasmuson Theater. The Dawes Commission, set in 1904, focuses on a Muscogee family who is visited by an agent from the Dawes Commission. The agent’s orders are to persuade the Creeks to accept allotment. The play is in Muscogee with English supertitles.

“The Muscogee (Creek) Nation is pleased and honored, once again, to present ‘Mvskoke Etvlwv: The Muscogee People Festival,’” said Muscogee (Creek) Nation Principal Chief George Tiger. “Muscogee culture, history, traditions and contemporary government are all aspects that we are proud to share with any and every one, especially on a national stage such as the National Museum of the American Indian. The three days of cultural demonstrations, historical drama and tribal program information are sure to enlighten and bring understanding to all those who visit the National Museum. Once again, we are honored and greatly anticipate our visit. Mvto!”  

“The museum is proud to host the Muscogee (Creek) Nation for this festival,” said Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the museum. “We are committed to bringing Native nations to the museum to tell their own stories and present culture, art, history, cuisine and more to the thousands of visitors that pass through our doors.”

The festival will bring special native food to the museum’s Mitsitam Native Foods Cafe. During all three days of the event, visitors will be able to see and buy arts and crafts of nine artisans:

• Tricia Alexander—cultural food information
• Dan Beaver—war clubs and ballsticks
• Harry and Diane Beaver—basket weaving
• Jimmy and Ceka Deere—ballsticks
• Darla Dirksen—baskets
• Nelson “Scotty” Harjo—flutes
• Mary Smith—baskets and mats
• Dana Tiger—contemporary art
• Sandy Wilson—cultural crafts, jewelry, textiles

Several performances will be held daily in the Potomac Atrium. Each day starts with an Opening Ceremony at 10:30 a.m. followed by posting of colors. A Stomp Dance group will perform at 12 and 3:30 p.m. A Creek Hymnal singing group will perform at 11:30 a.m. and 3 p.m. Visitors will watch a flute performance at 12:30 p.m.

The imagiNATIONS center on the third floor will hold activities for kids of all ages. A finger weaving demonstration will be presented at 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. daily. Ongoing coloring will happen all three days at 12 and 4 p.m.

For more details about the festival, visit www.AmericanIndian.si.edu. Join the conversation on Twitter @SmithsonianNMAI and use the hashtag #MuscogeeFestNMAI.

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SI-558-2014