Native American cultural center part of Genoa cowboy poetry 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.

More than a dozen Native American artists and craftspeople from the Great Basin and Maidu tribes of Nevada and California will have tables at the center, located in the former Incognito building on Genoa Lane.

Indian tacos will be sold as a fundraiser for the third annual Carson Valley powwow planned for Lampe Park later this summer.

In addition to the show and sale, demonstrations of Native culture and heritage and traditional singing and dancing are planned.

Washoe Tribal members Steven James and Melba Rakow 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. Saturday, 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. Friday and 10-10:30 a.m. Saturday; Grayson Toney, rope and harpoons, 11 a.m.-noon Friday and 10:30-11 a.m. Saturday; Alan Wallace, edible herbs, ethics and plants, noon-12:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday; Kurt Sam, Great Basin songs, 1-1:30 p.m. Friday and 3:30-4 p.m. Saturday; Wanda Batchelor, California Basket Makers Association, 1:30-2:30 p.m. Friday and 1-1:30 p.m. Saturday; Kevin Jones, drum making, 2:30-3 p.m. Friday; and April Moore, acorn processing, 3-4 p.m. Friday and 1:30-2:30 p.m. Saturday.

Elaine Smokey will show cradleboards. Other ongoing displays include hide tanning and a collection of Washoe baskets.

The cultural center opens 3 p.m. Thursday April 29. Cost of admission is included in the Genoa Cowboy Poetry & Music Festival day pass.

Information and a full schedule of festival events at www.genoacowboyfestival.com or from the Town of Genoa, 782-8696, or Carson Valley Arts Council, 782-8207.