Gateway to Nations

There's more family fun at Floyd Bennett Field coming up in the next few weeks.

From June 5-7, the Redhawk Native American Arts Council returns for another year with its annual “Gateway to Nations” Native American Heritage Celebration, at the Gateway National Recreation Area at Floyd Bennett Field.

As part of the 400th anniversary of Henry Hudson’s expiration of the Hudson River, the Redhawk Arts Council hosts the first of four Native American Celebrations called Native People of the Lower Hudson Valley. The kick off event will be June 5-7 at Brooklyn’s Floyd Bennett Field. The celebration is the largest Native American festival in New York City.

For more than 15 years, this location has served as the site for “Gateway to Nations” – a festival with more than 1,000 artists, performers and educators from across the Americas demonstrating the finest in Native American song, dance, drumming, food, art and crafts.

Friday is “Student Day” where schools, organizations and groups are invited to attend the event to enjoy special educational programming. The day is also open to the general public.

Performing groups from across New York State share the culture and traditions of the first people of this region as well as various Native American artists. A highlight of the event is the Native American dances including:

• Men’s Fancy War: With a circle of eagle feathers on their backs, they spin furiously
• Woman’s Fancy Shawl: With shawls draped across their shoulders, they appear to float
• Men’s Northern Traditional: The dancers tell stories of past hunts and battles
• Women’s Jingle Dress: They make the sound of a gentle rain falling to the earth


In honor of the indigenous people hailing from outside of the US, there will also be a Polynesian dance troupe representing — through dance cultures — the islands of Hawaii, Tahiti, Samoa and New Zealand. Also on the stage will be an Aztec group from Mexico City and Inca groups from Peru and Ecuador.

Other highlights of the extravaganza include authentic cuisine — buffalo burgers, venison stew, corn soup and fry bread — and the opportunity to interact with tribes like the Sioux, Navajo, Winnebago, Cherokee and Mohawk. Many of the artists have journeyed across the continent to showcase and sell their breathtaking paintings, carvings, pottery, beadwork, jewelry and leatherwork. This family event also features a live bird of prey exhibit, pony rides and tipi raising.

The Redhawk arts council is a nonprofit headquartered in Brooklyn. It was founded in 1994 to educate the public about Native American heritage and contributions through cultural expression. In addition to hosting four major cultural events in the tri-state area, the council also addresses negative and incorrect portrayals by offering educational workshops and performances in schools and companies.

Floyd Bennett Field is reached by taking Flatbush Avenue south of the Belt Parkway and then follow the signs (lat left turn right before the bridge).

Admission is by donation: $12; $6 for seniors and children; those ages six and under are admitted free. Show hours are Friday, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
For more, call 718-686-9297.

Note that the dance competitions/shows begin at 1 p.m. on Saturday and Sunday.