At the end of June, we had the incredible honour of performing at the 34th Annual Eiteljorg Indian Market and Festival in Indianapolis, Indiana. It was our first time performing at the Eiteljorg Museum, and we were grateful to be invited to be part of one of the largest and most respected celebrations of Indigenous art and culture in North America.
The festival brought together Indigenous artists from across Turtle Island, giving visitors the opportunity to experience a wide variety of artwork, performances, and cultural traditions. Thousands of people attended over the weekend to explore the market, enjoy live entertainment, and learn more about Indigenous cultures.
We performed multiple times over two days in the museum's beautiful outdoor performance space. Although the relative temperature was ~100°F (~40°C), the enthusiastic crowds made every performance worthwhile. Visitors of all ages eagerly participated in the teaching demonstration component and learned to play spoons and basic Métis jigging steps. Their excitement and willingness to participate despite the weather made each performance especially memorable.
After our performances, audience members stayed to relay their appreciation and to ask questions about Métis culture, music, and dance. We really enjoyed these conversations because they helped people better understand traditions that we are proud to carry forward.
We would like to sincerely thank the Eiteljorg Museum staff and volunteers for their outstanding hospitality throughout the weekend. Everyone was welcoming, organized, and supportive, making it a wonderful experience from beginning to end.
We were especially honoured to receive an open invitation to return for future festivals. It means so much to know that our performances and cultural presentations were appreciated, and we would be delighted to return to share Métis culture with new audiences again.
Thank you to everyone who came to watch our performances, learned about Métis culture, and who joined us in celebration throughout the weekend. We had an unforgettable experience and look forward to return to Indianapolis again!
If you are located on Turtle Island (i.e. North America) and are interested in bringing the Lyons Sisters Métis Jiggers to your school, festival, conference, museum, or community event, we would love to hear from you!Write to us at [email protected].
