Citizen Potawatomi Nation’s annual Family Reunion Festival runs June 29-July 1 across Raymond Peltier Park and Tribal enterprises near Shawnee, Oklahoma. Native culture and heritage are often shared through art, and this year, the Tribe celebrates creative expression with youth and adult contests.
Children’s contest
Youths age 15 and younger can enter up to three pieces in one of four categories: ages 5 and younger, ages 6-9, 10-12 and 13-15. Registration opens 9 a.m. Saturday in the youth tent located just south of FireLake Water Tower (west of the playground).
An independent judge decides winners in each category, announced around 11 a.m. Saturday inside the youth tent.
Other kids’ Festival activities across powwow and Tribal grounds feature arts and crafts, basketball, coloring contests, chess, checkers, kiddie land, mini-putt, swimming and more. Children’s events are for youths age 15 and younger.
Learn more and see a festival and Tribal grounds map inside this issue of the Hownikan.
Adults’ contest
Adults age 16 and older can register 9 a.m.-noon Saturday inside FireLake Arena’s west entrance (see Festival grounds map in this issue). Awards are presented during Saturday’s General Council meeting, which starts at 3 p.m. at FireLake Arena.
The CPN adult amateur division has two categories: painting/drawing and other (regalia, woodcarving, photography, etc.). An independent judge selects three amateur division winners.
The adult professional division is open to CPN artists who have been paid for work in the same medium in which they enter. If they’ve sold woodwork pieces, for example, they should submit similar items in the professional division. Guests vote for their favorite entries; a winner is selected from those.
However, if a professional woodworker has never sold any paintings or drawings, those are OK as amateur entries, said Kelli Mosteller, CPN Cultural Heritage Center director and adult art competition co-organizer.
Adult contest registrants must pick up their work before the end of Saturday’s General Council, Mosteller said.
Other adult Festival activities across powwow and Tribal grounds feature pool, horseshoe, domino, chess and checkers tournaments; jewelry, moccasin and accessory-making events at CPN Cultural Heritage Center, traditional hand games, dance contests, Potawatomi bingo, softball tournaments, vendor and craft booths, mini-putt, bullseye pistol matches and more. Adult events are open to CPN visitors age 16 and older.
Learn more and see a Festival and Tribal grounds map inside this month’s issue of the Hownikan.
