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Artpark has made a commitment to Indigenous Arts programming and awareness with a full season of Indigenous programs built for and by our local Indigenous community. Our programming serves residents from the Indigenous community in Lewiston, Youngstown, and beyond as well as non-Native persons who are interested in learning more about the culture and traditions.
June 21, 2025
Strawberry Moon Festival is a global celebration built on the Two Row Wampum Teachings that promote all Nations walk together in parallel, with respect, compassion, and understanding to cultivate an inclusive community for our shared future. This festival celebrates the indigenous cultures of the Niagara region through storytelling, music, dance, and arts & crafts. Guests will participate in an inclusive and engaging Native American community gathering.
Not just a music festival, Strawberry Moon celebrates the fact the sky does not acknowledge borders, as different cultural factions from Western New York and Canada gathered to honor the beginning of a new season and tip their collective cap to the land that sustains us all. -- The Buffalo News
More info and events to be announced!
ARTPARK'S NATIVE AMERICAN PEACE GARDEN
by Michele-Elise Burnett of Kakekalanicks Consultancy, Bryan Printup, Rene Rickard, Vince Schiffert and Violet Printup
Artpark Lower Park (South 4th Street entrance)
Opened August 2020
Free and open to the public during regular park hours
Designed in the sacred shape of the Turtle, this garden is a place for people from all Four Quadrants of the Medicine Wheel to come in unity and friendship. Overlooking the beautiful Niagara River, this healing garden not only offers visitors the opportunity to relax and reflect in a peaceful setting but also acts as an ongoing Native American outdoor land-based classroom with many Strawberry Moon Festival programs to be offered in the future.
The opening celebration on August 1, 2020 began with the traditional Thanksgiving Address, songs and a special Wampum Belt Gifting ceremony to Artpark by Dr. Joe Stahlman, Director of the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum, and Richard Hamell, Professor Emeritus of Monroe Community College. The program also featured storytelling, music and other performances, and special talks / Q&A sessions.
Elders Advisory Council
Allan Jamieson, Sr., Cayuga Nation / Neil Patterson Sr., Tuscarora Nation
Produced by Artpark in collaboration with Kakekalanicks Indigenous Arts & Consultancy
Artpark has extensive relationships within all of these communities, but specifically with individuals from the Tuscarora, Cayuga, Seneca and Mohawk Nations.
Programming is planned by Artpark's Indigenous Arts Producer, Michele-Elise Burnett (Métis/Algonquin, Bear Clan). Michele is President of Kakekalanicks, an Indigenous arts and consultancy company which educates, enlightens and entertains broad audiences through the promotion of Indigenous knowledge through art, artists, and performers. Ms. Burnett is the co-founder of Landscape of Nations 360°, a unique Indigenous education and tourism initiative. She is the creator and Artistic Director of the Celebration of Nations and the Indigenous Arts Producer at Artpark, where she curates the Annual Strawberry Moon Festival, and Indigenous Ways of Knowing on-going programming, all which provide a far-reaching platform for the community to embrace and honor the unique heritage, diverse cultures, and outstanding achievements of Indigenous peoples. Ms. Burnett has recently been part of multiple large and meaningful art installations and memorials in various capacities including the Landscape of Nations Commemorative Memorial in Queenston Ont, the Curtain Call installation at the FirstOntario Performing Arts Centre in St. Catharines Ont, the Native American Peace Garden at Artpark, and conceptualized and produced the Indigenous site reactive audio Journey – "Her Moccasins Talk" for Artpark’s Sonic Trails. Contact
