By Sandy Schmidt, former public programs manager

The reopening of the Eiteljorg’s Native American Galleries is thrilling, overdue and a cause for celebration.

There are many ways to celebrate: food, gifts, cards, high-fives or social media posts. Sometimes, the best way to celebrate is by sitting back and listening to some great music, and that is just what the Eiteljorg plans to offer. The museum will host amazing concerts featuring Indigenous musicians from a variety of genres as part of our 2022 Summer of Celebration. All concerts will be held on the museum’s outdoor stage under The Sails, weather permitting.

The Eiteljorg is pleased to announce that the Indiana Corn Marketing Council and Indiana Soybean Alliance have agreed to a partnership in which they are the presenting sponsors of the 2022 Summer of Celebration.

The concert series kicks off July 14-16 with performances by Bizhiki Culture and Dance Company. These dedicated educators offer a variety of experiences, so there is sure to be something for all guests. Scouts can earn a patch, lifelong learners can attend an evening presentation, and the whole family will get to experience dancing and music. The events with Bizhiki Culture and Dance Company are included with regular museum admission tickets, which can be ordered online at Eiteljorg.org/events.

The remaining concerts in the Summer of Celebration are ticketed events. Tickets are $25 per person for each concert, or $75 for the package of four shows. Visit Eiteljorg.org/SummerofCelebration for reservations. Here is the lineup:

• Hip-hop duo Snotty Nose Rez Kids will be rolling into the museum from British Columbia, Canada, on July 21. They have received several music awards, are on their third album, and will amp up the outdoor stage.
• July 27 features brother and sister duo Sihasin from Arizona. They have a distinct sound based in their Diné culture with a punk rock backbone, softened by folk world beats.
• A bit of rock and roll mixed with some folk rock will be coming to our stage on Aug. 25 with a concert from blues-rock musician Keith Secola (Anishinaabe) featuring classical guitarist Gabriel Ayala (Pascua Yaqui). We are excited to welcome Gabriel back to the museum after his last appearance at the museum at the 2018 Indian Market and Festival (where he created one of that year’s signature images for the market), and some will likely remember those performances.
• The Summer of Celebration concludes Sept. 23 with Native American adult/rock music group Brulé, whose thrilling stage performances with dancers made a lasting impression on visitors when they last performed at the Eiteljorg years ago.

These award-winning musicians will undoubtedly deliver amazing performances, so join them and the museum in celebrating the new galleries. Refreshments will be available for the shows under The Sails. In case of rain, concerts will be moved indoors. To reserve tickets for the four ticketed shows above, visit  Eiteljorg.org/SummerofCelebration.

Editor’s note: This article originally appeared in the June 2022 issue of Storyteller magazine.