Genundowa Photo Montage

Genundowa, Summer's End...

For the end of summer for our family means one thing, traveling to Hammondsport, N.Y. for the Festival of Lights.
A quite a few years ago, my niece was asked to join a Haudenosaunee dance troop which shares our Onondaga social dance songs with the people and visitors o the small town of Hammondsport on the bottom of Keuka Lake. When my niece started dancing, she was just a teen, now 10 years later, my daughter was asked to come and dance with her. Wow how time flies.
The Genundowa Festival has many great memories or us as a family. Since it occurs during Labor Day weekend, it was a great place to celebrate my father’s birthday. Since it was a dance and craft festival, it was great to watch my mom go and visit and buy jewelry, especially silver bracelets, from the vendors. For the kids, the last splash in the lake and even a dip in the pool.
Since my mom’s passing and my father got sick, it is still good to continue our tradition of going to Hammondsport. And judging from my little ones, looks as though they are excited to keep coming back too.

Da•ne’thoh,Dehowähda·dih

For a unique look into life at Onondaga: http://www.onondaganation.org/aboutus/blogs.html
For more info about the Onondaga Nation: http://www.onondaganation.org/

Genundowa 2010 - Call for Vendors and Artists

2010 will mark the 17th year of the Genundowa Festival. Most of the vendors and participants have been with us since the first year. I hope that can be taken as an indication that we are doing something right. Over the years time and attrition have taken a toll on our "core group". Some have moved across the country and, sadly, several have passed away. We have found that the optimum number of booths is around thirty and for the last couple of years we have fallen short of that mark. We try to attend several other events to find people that would compliment our festival and provide a positive representation of Haudenosaunee culture and Native American culture in general. If you know of someone that would be interested in the 2010 festival please send them our way.

I would also like to see a little more variety in 2010. At past festivals we have included a "western style" drum to illustrate the difference between the stereotypical drum and the water drum. We have also included other types of musicians - Corn Bred, The Joe Firecrow Big Band, and Gypsy Red for example. We a looking for some type of performance to add to next year's schedule. Again, your suggestions are needed for both a western drum and "something special."

This festival is yours - we just provide the time and the place. Let's work together and make 2010 the best festival to date.

Genundowa in the News...

News 10 Now’s Vince Slomsky filmed a news story which was picked up by several of their affiliates throughout the state. Nice job Vince! It is also posted on YouTube along with six additional videos from the 2009 Festival. More videos to follow, so stop by from time to time. If anyone has any video that was taken at Genundowa feel free to post it or send me the clip and I'll put it up.