NATIVE AMERICAN VILLAGE

LOUISIANA IS RICH IN NATIVE AMERICAN CULTURE.

Since the beginning of Jazz Fest, local tribal craftspeople have showcased their crafts at the Festival. A celebration of the influence of Louisiana tribes, the Native American Village within the Folklife Village focuses on the rich heritage of our state’s indigenous peoples.
The Native American Village offers Festivalgoers an oasis of tranquil charm. Relax under the shade canopy of a palmetto-thatched chickee while enjoying traditional drumming and singing by indigenous dance and powwow troupes. Taste traditional Southeastern maque choux as you watch demonstrations of basket weaving and wood carving by Louisiana’s tribal elders and their apprentices. The Native Nations Tent showcases Louisiana’s indigenous craftspeople from state and federally recognized Louisiana tribes including United Houma Nation, Jena Band of Choctaw, Coushatta Tribe of Louisiana and Louisiana Band of Choctaw.

In honor of UNESCO declaring 2022-2032 as the Indigenous Language Decade, we feature two special projects working hard to preserve and revitalize indigenous languages in our communities.

MUSIC

There will be daily exhibition powwow performances including traditional, fancy shawl, straight dance, grass dance, jingle, hoop, southern cloth and stomp dance. Festivalgoers will have a unique opportunity to learn about the origins of these diverse dances and marvel at the colorful regalia and intricate movements that characterize the southeastern powwow. This year’s drum groups include Native Nations Intertribal and Thunder Hill.

EDUCATIONAL
PROGRAM

On Friday, May 5, the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell will present an educational program for Native American youth at Golden Meadow Middle School in Lafourche Parish. The workshop will feature DJ Shub!

Weekend 1

TENT A
LOUISIANA NATIVE NATIONS

PINE NEEDLE BASKETS
Marjorie Battise
Coushatta
Kinder, Allan Parish

WOOD CARVING
Ivy Billiot
United Houma Nation
Houma, Terrebone Parish

PINE NEEDLE BASKETS &
NATIVE AMERICAN JEWELRY
Becky Thomas-Meziere
Clifton Choctaw
Natchitoches, Natchitoches Parish

WOOD CARVING & MINIATURE BOATS
Douglas Fazzio
United Houma Nation
Houma, Terrebone Parish

PINE NEEDLE BASKETS
Myrna Wilson
Coushatta
Elton, Jefferson Davis Parish

LANGUAGE REVITALIZATION & IMMERSION LESSONS
Houma Language Project
Gulf South, Louisiana

Weekend 2

TENT A
LOUISIANA NATIVE NATIONS

BASKET WEAVING
Lora Ann Chaisson
United Houma Nation
Montegut, Terrebone Parish

RIVER CANE BASKETS
John & Scarlett Darden
Chitimacha
Charenton, St. Mary Parish

GARFISH SCALE JEWELRY &
HOUMA HALF-HITCHED
PALMETTO BASKETS
Janie Luster
United Houma Nation
Theriot, Terrebone Parish

WOOD CARVING
Roy Parfait
United Houma Nation
Dulac, Terrebone Parish

Happenings
& POW WOWs

NATIVE NATIONS INTERTRIBAL POWWOW 

FRIDAY, APRIL 28:
12:00-12:20, 1:15-1:35, 3:55-4:20

SATURDAY, APRIL 29:
12:10-12:30, 1:25-1:50, 4:05-4:35 

SUNDAY, APRIL 30:
12:05-12:25, 1:15-1:40, 2:35-2:55

THUNDER HILL POWWOW 

THURSDAY, MAY 4:
12:00-12:20, 1:10-1:30, 3:50-4:15 

FRIDAY, MAY 5:
12:05-12:25, 1:20-1:40, 3:50-4:15 

SATURDAY, MAY 6:
12:05-12:25, 1:20-1:40, 2:35-2:55 

SUNDAY, MAY 7:
12:10-12:30, 1:20-1:40, 2:35-2:55

MARIACHI JALISCO 

FRIDAY, MAY 5: 2:30-2:50