Indian Rites Come to Life at Festival

The 16th annual American Indian Festival at the Natural History Museum this weekend is a museum-wide celebration of Southwest Indian life and art. For kids, it’s a chance to see colorful Indian traditions come to life. There will be singing, dancing, crafts demonstrations and special foods. This year the festival is augmented by a major exhibit, “Art From the Navajo Loom: The William Randolph Hearst Collection.”

Performances will be at 12:30, 1:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. today and Sunday.

The dioramas of the North American Mammal Hall are the perfect backdrop for the performances by the Inter-Tribal Dancers of Los Angeles. Dressed in lavish native costumes, they will perform the Swan and Eagle dances, the War Dance, the Hoop Dance and the Apache Mountain Spirit Dance.

It’s best to find seats early because children in the back rows may have a problem seeing the dancers.

Set Up Shop in Foyer

Distinguished artists from all over the Southwest will set up shop in the main foyer. Navajo Mary Ann Ashley will demonstrate weaving, Nelson and Judy Lewis will show visitors how sand paintings are created, and more than a dozen other craftspeople will have their baskets, pots, beadwork, stone sculpture, paintings and jewelry on sale.

Frying Navajo Bread

As in years past, Arthur and Angela Yazzie will be making Navajo fry bread outside at the museum’s north entrance. In the museum’s Dinosaur Shop, the staff has put together an enticing selection of American Indian-related coloring books, crafts kits, novelties and other educational items.

The Natural History Museum, located in Exposition Park, is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., with festivities from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. both days. Admission to the museum and all shows is a one-time cost of $3 for adults, $1.50 for students with ID and seniors 65 and over, 75 cents for children 5-12. Children 4 and under admitted free. For more information, call (213) 744-3414.