Photo by Clarissa Friday of Native Clarity Photography
Indian Summer Festival
“Our vision is a future where Native cultures are celebrated, respected, and understood across generations. Indian Summer Festival will remain a place of cultural pride, learning and unity for all who gather.”
This is the new Indian Summer Festival. Energetic, inovative, young, dedicated to cultural sharing. And hungry to bring the festival back to Milwaukee.
It’s been eight years since we heard the festival’s drums and celebration at Milwaukee’s lakefront. Then a year ago a new group of young Native Americans formed a non-profit dedicated to bringing back the spirit of the original 32-year run of Indian Summer.
To test the waters, in March ISF started with a two-day Spring Powwow & Native Art Market at the Waukesha County Expo Center grounds to gage the interest and participation of the Native community. They hit capacity in the first hours of the first day.
So the return of Indian Summer Festival is slated for fall of 2027. And this is where the larger Milwaukee community comes in.
Photo by Clarissa Friday of Native Clarity Photography
Vendor at Indian Summer Festival
The next step: September 26-27, a Fall Fundraiser & Native Art Market will be held at the Waukesha County Expo Center grounds, in a much larger building. It will feature Native-owned food vendors, special cultural demonstrations, and a Native Art Market featuring 60+ Native artists from Wisconsin and beyond. A large outside area will highlight a traditional lacrosse tournament and exhibition, as well as cultural dancing and teachings.
Authenticity and education are particularly important to the ISF mission. Board President Lloyd Ninham (Oneida) explains, “Our artists and food vendors are vetted, so it’s not just online merchandise or 'native-inspired' designs. We make sure everybody is tribally enrolled, that if they’re not selling their own wares or their own designs, it’s at least from one of their family members. We’re very intentional and meticulous in that process.”
The event will also host the inaugural Miss Indigenous Wisconsin Pageant, “an inspiring showcase of talent and culture designed to uplift and empower the young Indigenous leaders of tomorrow”. (Ticketed separately by MIW) Showcasing Miss, Junior Miss and Lil’ Miss categories, the pageant occurs both days, spanning rehearsals, performance and impromptu questions, a dance competition and finally, the crowning of Miss Indigenous Wisconsin.
Cultural sharing is the overarching gift of ISF.
Ninham had his own story about this. He talked about being remotely aware of cousins and others on the rez who danced at powwows. But he didn’t grow up within his Oneida culture. "I’m a concrete native—a city native.” He initially learned about his culture through Indian Summer and Oneida tribal members, illustrating how something as simple and enjoyable as a cultural festival can bring about personal enrichment.
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“We want Indian Summer Festival to be the bridge” Ninham says. “Having things set up the way we are for ISF is in large part to be able to be that bridge. So people can find each other, can find their community, to find that chosen family.”
It’s up to us, Milwaukee, to support the return of Indian Summer Festival. Click on the ISF site link below and buy a ticket or donate whatever you can. Every dollar counts. If you’re a business, become a sponsor and have your business’ name at the forefront of this beloved festival’s return.
Then attend the Indian Summer Festival Fall Fundraiser September 26-27. And we’ll see you next year at Indian Summer!
For more, visit
https://link.edgepilot.com/x/8XpLesl-ROoUla-caObn8NU?u=http://www.indiansummerfestivalinc.org/
https://link.edgepilot.com/x/IbWHjBA2gbLRH2unY1t4z6o?u=http://www.missindigenouspageant.com/
This article was written by the author with no AI assistance.
