Red Earth Festival set for June 18-20 in Oklahoma City
Dancers wait to perform during the Red Earth Festival press conference Monday at the state Capitol in Oklahoma City. (Photo by Steve Gooch/The Oklahoman)
From Tuesday’s The Oklahoman.
Red Earth Festival planned for June 18-20 in downtown Oklahoma City
Feathers flying, bells jingling and feet bounding, about a dozen youths on Monday danced around the fourth-floor rotunda of the state Capitol to the hypnotic beat of drumming and chanting.
Clad in colorful regalia, the Shawnee Public Schools students in the Soaring Eagles Dance Troop served as heralds of the upcoming Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival. The 24th annual Red Earth festival is set for June 18-20 at the Cox Convention Center.
The festivities will open with a grand parade and include the famed dance competition, art market, storytellers, youth activities and a 5K run.
“This festival is one of largest, the largest, of its kind in the world, and it’s here in Oklahoma and here in Oklahoma City,” said Lt. Gov. Jari Askins at Monday’s Red Earth media day. “We know that almost half of the visitors to Red Earth are from out of state, so it gives us a chance to show off Oklahoma, to show off our hospitality, to show off the wonderful different kinds of arts that are featured at this Red Earth Festival.”
Red Earth draws a paid of attendance of about 25,000 people, larger than the population of most of the state’s cities and towns, she said. The event provides an economic impact of more than $8.5 million for Oklahoma City, said Red Earth Deputy Director Eric Oesch.
Typically set for the first weekend of June, Red Earth will move this year to the third weekend, which includes Father’s Day, to accommodate preparations for the June 11-15 U.S. Conference of Mayors annual meeting at the convention center.
“I think it could be an advantage because it’s a great opportunity to do something special with Dad,” Oesch said. “We’re also paying special homage to military veterans. Because the Native culture is a warrior society, there’s so many veterans who are of Native American descent. So, all veterans or active military will receive a discount admission with their proper identification.”
The festival also will laud this year Cheyenne-Arapaho artist Gordon Yellowman Sr., who has been named the 2010 Red Earth Honored One, an annual title bestowed on a master visual artist. The El Reno resident, who serves as one of the four principal Cheyenne-Arapaho chiefs, creates contemporary ledger paintings that reflect the heritage of his tribe.
“In my young career as an artist, I never dreamed that I would ever reach this goal in my life. And it is truly indeed an honor,” Yellowman said.
Coming up
24th annual Red Earth Native American Cultural Festival
When: June 18-20.
Where: Cox Convention Center in downtown.
Information: 427-5228 or www.redearth.org.
-BAM
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