Written By: Jeffery U. Darensbourg, Alligator Band Council Member
Saturday, April 27, 2013, Chief Chretien and I participated in the Cultural Exchange Program in the Native American Village at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. We were on a panel entitled “African-Native Americans: Blended Histories,” which was part of the “Cultural Crossroads: Celebrating Native America” series of panel discussions. Chief Chretien and I talked about our heritage, our tribe, and our experiences. Other members of our panel included well-known Native and African American musician Martha Redbone, as well as two rather esteemed scholars of Native America, Grabrielle Tayac (Piscatawy) of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and Angela Gonzales (Hopi) of Cornell University. Dr. Tayac has published and curated exhibits about people who have both African and Native heritage, and this is and example: http://nmai.si.edu/exhibitions/indivisible/introduction.html
Before and after our panel we had the opportunity to network with members of other tribes present for panels and exhibitions, including members of the Navajo, Coushatta, Chitimacha, Clifton Choctaw, and Houma Nations. We also had the opportunity to introduce ourselves to United Houma Nation Chief Thomas Dardar, Jr. We also talked about our tribe with scholars and students from Tulane University, Louisiana State University, members of Idle No More Gulf Coast, and from a New Orleans museum of Free People of Color (www.lemuseedefpc.com). We also spoke with someone who is helping with signage at Vermillionville, and he expressed interest in our helping to ensure that the Ishak heritage is well-represented there.
Overall we felt very welcome by all we met and made many good contacts with prospects for participation in future events.
With best wishes,
-Jeffery