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Mesa Verde Country® Eighth Annual
Mesa Verde Country®
Indian Arts & Culture Festival
Winner of the Governor's Award for Outstanding Community Tourism Initiative


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Cortez, Colorado

Dolores, Colorado

Mancos, Colorado

Towaoc

Calendar



2008 IACF SCHEDULE:
Friday, May 23
Saturday, May 24
Sunday, May 25
Monday, May 26
Tuesday, May 27
Wednesday, May 28
Thursday, May 29
Friday, May 30
Saturday, May 31
Sunday, June 1


Mesa Verde Country® Juried Indian Art Market
Indian Art Market



1000 Places To See Before You Die - A Traveler's Life List by Patricia Schultz features Mesa Verde and the Indian Arts and Culture Festival on pages 587-588.
Featured in
New York Times
#1 Best Seller
"1000 Places
To See
Before You Die"

by
Patricia Schultz

The communities of Cortez, Dolores, Mancos, and Towaoc, and our partners at Mesa Verde National Park, welcome you to the Eighth Annual Mesa Verde Country® Indian Arts & Culture Festival. We invite you to join us as we "Celebrate Our Song" and showcase the many cultural and archaeological gems of our area.
Handwoven rug, pottery by master potters
Indian Arts & Culture Festival: Celebrating our Song
Native American in ceremonial dress
Native American dancer at Cortez Center
Spruce Tree House at Mesa Verde Pottery
Find these at the Mesa Verde Country® Indian Arts & Culture Festival



May is archaeology month in Colorado and there is no better place to celebrate than Mesa Verde Country®, the archaeological center of America. Archaeology ties all of us to the heritage we proudly share with the Ancestral Pueblo people from the past and the Native Americans living here today.

Also woven into the rich fabric of our landscape are explorers, ranchers, miners, farmers, cowboys, outlaws, and railroad men. These later settlers to the area are very much a part of the rich cultural heritage we invite you to celebrate with us.

We hope your experiences in Mesa Verde Country® provide a deeper understanding of the archaeology, Native American culture, and Old West history that have made our area a trading center and merging point for many cultures over the past 2,000 years. They are the reasons we are Celebrating Our Song!


Friday, May 23
Reception for featured artist at Mesa Indian Trading Post and Gallery:
     5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

MESA VERDE COUNTRY® INDIAN ARTS AND CULTURE FESTIVAL
Our Featured Artist for 2008:
Dorleen Gashweseoma
This year's featured artist is Dorleen Gashweseoma Lalo (Hopi), a basket maker from Third Mesa, who was inspired by the masterful basket making of her mother and grandmother. Now she is a master weaver in her own right and a recipient of numerous awards, including most recently the Arizona Governor's Arts Award. The first time she submitted work to the 72nd Annual Hopi Festival of Arts and Culture at the Museum of Northern Arizona, her baskets won five awards, including Best of Show award.
Featured Artist for 2008 is Dorleen Gashweseoma
Dorleen grew up in a very traditional Hopi family, and her "school" was working with her grandmother collecting materials and learning how to make baskets. She loved how her grandmother made baskets out of nature and the products of mother earth. Wherever Dorleen travels she always thinks of her grandmother as she looks at the native plants to determine what she could use from mother earth to make a basket.
Featured Artist Dorleen Gashweseoma exhibits her handwoven basketry
As a child, Dorleen wanted to be like her grandmother and make beautiful baskets. As she continues to travel, win awards, and meet collectors who appreciate her art, Dorleen believes her dreams have now come true.

To hear Dorleen tell her own story, click here for a podcast.

This piece by Featured Artist Dorleen Gashweseoma will be raffled at the Festival
FESTIVAL RAFFLE ARTWORK

Yucca Sifter Basket in a geometric pattern of colors representing the four directions, the seeds the Hopi plant (corn, squash, tobacco, etc) and the morning sun that will nurture the plants to maturity. This is the first basket with this pattern Dorleen has made. - ($450 value)

$5.00/per ticket
or $25.00/per 6 tickets

Drawing will be held Sunday, May 25, 2008, 3:00 P.M.
Mesa Verde National Park Far View Terrace

Need Not Be Present To Win
Saturday, May 24
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - FARVIEW TERRACE:
     Juried Indian Art Market: 10 am - 6 pm
     Rug Seminar: 10:30 - 11 am
     Rug Auction Preview Viewing: 11am - noon
     Rug Auction: Noon - 3 pm

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - CHAPIN MESA AMPHITHEATER:
     Native American Dances: 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm & 4 pm

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - MOREFIELD CAMPGROUND AMPHITHEATER:
     Native American Concert: 7 pm, $20 adults/$10 under 12

IN CONCERT:
ARVEL BIRD — "LORD OF THE STRINGS"

2007 Native American Music Awards Performer of the Year


Arvel Bird, Lord of the Strings, will be in Concert at the 2008 IACF Festival
This year's concert headliner is 2007 Native American Music Awards Artist of the Year, Arvel Bird — "Lord of the Strings." Bird's mixed heritage, a Southern Paiute mother and a Scottish father, and his flawless talent and passion to inspire audiences, blend together to create a repertoire like none before.

No matter what style of music you enjoy, from classical, New Age, folk, country, and Celtic, to Native American, bluegrass, fusion, jazz, or blues, you'll find it all and more in Arvel's work. Arvel is considered one of the hottest Native American artists on tour today and you are guaranteed to come away from his performance feeling good!


7 pm, Morefield Amphitheater
Mesa Verde National Park

Tickets: $20 adults/$10 under 12


Tickets are available at Southwest Sound in Durango, Rocky Mountain One Stop in Cortez, the Colorado Welcome Center in Cortez, and at the concert.
Arvel Bird Video Bio (YouTube)

Listen to Audio clips of Arvel's music:

· Bear · Dragonfly · Indian Creek
· Red Tail Hawk · Deer Tracks · Cochise Stronghold


UTE MOUNTAIN TRIBAL PARK - TRIBAL PARK TOURS:
     Full-day Tour: 9:00 am - 3:00 pm - North Lion Canyon Tour
     $24 per person

UTE MOUNTAIN TRIBAL PARK - SPECIAL TOURS:
     "Porcupine House Ruin and Ute Pictograph Tour"
          9:00 am - 3 pm; $24 per person (space limited-reservations encouraged)

     "Anasazi Sun Calendars in Mancos Canyon and Anasazi Petroglyph Tour"
          9:30 am - 1:30 pm; $24 per person (space limited-reservations encouraged)

Sunday, May 25
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - FARVIEW TERRACE:
     Juried Indian Art Market: 10 am - 4 pm

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - CHAPIN MESA AMPHITHEATER:
     Native American Dances: 10 am, 12 pm, 2 pm & 4 pm

Monday, May 26
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

Tuesday, May 27
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
     Behind-the-scenes Collection Tours, 10 am - 2 pm
     (space limited - reservations encouraged)
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

Wednesday, May 28
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
     Behind-the-scenes Collection Tours, 10 am - 2 pm
     (space limited - reservations encouraged)
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER:
     Day Program with Site Tour: 9 am - 4 pm
          $50 adults, $25 under 18; includes lunch (space limited - reservations required)

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - FAR VIEW TERRACE - ARAMARK/NPS GUIDED TOURS:
     Half-day Tours: 8 am & 1 pm - $49 adults, $38 under 12

Thursday, May 29
Native American Dancer
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
Behind-the-scenes Collection Tours, 10 am - 2 pm
(space limited - reservations encouraged)

CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

CROW CANYON ARCHAEOLOGICAL CENTER:
Day Program with Site Tour:
9 am - 4 pm
$50 adults, $25 under 18; includes lunch
(space limited - reservations required)

MESA VERDE NATIONAL PARK - FAR VIEW TERRACE
ARAMARK/NPS GUIDED TOURS:
Half-day Tours: 8 am & 1 pm
$49 adults, $38 under 12
Friday, May 30
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
     Behind-the-scenes Collection Tours, 10 am - 2 pm
     (space limited - reservations encouraged)
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

Saturday, May 31
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
CORTEZ CULTURAL CENTER:
     Native American Dances and Cultural Programs: 7:30 pm

TOWAOC:
     Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 119th Annual Bear Dance: Dancing, Singing, Games,
     and Traditional Foods throughout the day

Sunday, June 1
ANASAZI HERITAGE CENTER:
     Exhibits: A Gesture of Kinship: A Navajo Photo Exhibit 9 am - 5 pm
TOWAOC:
     Ute Mountain Ute Tribe 119th Annual Bear Dance: Dancing, Singing, Games,
     and Traditional Foods throughout the day


Nammy Award Winner
Arvel Bird will
perform at the 2008
Indian Arts & Culture Festival


Arvel Bird - Lord of the Strings - will be in Concert at the 2008 IACF Festival
Arvel Bird - Lord of the Strings - will be in Concert at the 2008 IACF Festival
Arvel Bird - Lord of the Strings - will be in Concert at the 2008 IACF Festival
Arvel Bird - Lord of the Strings - will be in Concert at the 2008 IACF Festival

More about Arvel Bird and his complete discography is available at the Arvel Bird website.


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Credits
Photo Credits #42