Native American cultural center part of Genoa festival

Staff Reports

Native American jewelry, drum and beadwork makers, silversmiths, basket weavers and visual artists will show and sell their work at the Native American Cultural and Historic Center during the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival, April 29 to May 2.

Artists and craftspeople from the Great Basin and Maidu tribes of Nevada and California will be represented at the center, in the former Incognito building on Genoa Lane. Demonstrations of native culture and heritage and traditional singing and dancing are planned.

Washoe Tribal members Steven James and Melba Rakow will tell stories in the Washoe language 12:30 to 1 p.m. April 30 and May 1.

"A narrator will tell the story in Washoe, and the stories will be translated into English," said Lana Hicks, who along with her daughter Lori Pasqua, are organizers of activities at the cultural center.

The Eagle Wings Dancers from the Washoe, Paiute and Shoshone tribes demonstrate Great Basin traditional dances at 11 a.m. to noon and 2:30-3:30 p.m. May 1.

"This isn't like powwow dancing," Hicks said. "These dances were unique to our people before the powwow came. The eagle dance, the circle dance, the deer dance and several others. They're not flashy; they're very simple. What people will see is the original Nevada type of dancing."

The Eagle Wings Dancers have their own drum performers who sing songs unique to the group, Hicks said. The dancers include children and adults.

Cultural demonstrators include Darrel Cruz, Washoe Tribe Cultural Resources Preservation, 10:30-11 a.m. April 30 and 10-10:30 a.m. May 1; Grayson Toney, rope and harpoons, 11 a.m.-noon April 30 and 10:30-11 a.m. May 1; Alan Wallace, edible herbs, ethics and plants, noon-12:30 p.m. April 30 and May 1; Kurt Sam, Great Basin songs, 1-1:30 p.m. April 30 and 3:30-4 p.m. May 1; Wanda Batchelor, California Basket Makers Association, 1:30-2:30 p.m. April 30 and 1-1:30 p.m. May 1; Kevin Jones, drum making, 2:30-3 p.m. April 30; and April Moore, acorn processing, 3-4 p.m. April 30 and 1:30-2:30 p.m. May 1.

Elaine Smokey shows cradleboards. Other ongoing displays include hide tanning and a collection of Washoe baskets. Indian tacos will be sold.

Cost of admission to the cultural center is included in the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival day pass.

Information and a full schedule of festival events at www.genoacowboyfestival.com

Special lodging rates are offered at festival host hotels Carson Valley Inn and Holiday Inn Express.