Free All-Day Community Event!

Highlighting the continued vibrancy and artistic traditions of Native American communities – and the local tribes who helped shape San Antonio – the Briscoe Western Art Museum invites everyone to enjoy its annual Yanaguana Indian Arts Festival. The event is FREE and includes admission to the Briscoe, making it a perfect way to celebrate the important role Native Americans played in shaping the West while enjoying art and artifacts that highlight Native American history.

The FREE community festival features live performances, storytelling, artist demonstrations, pottery and carving, as well as Native American-inspired food, including REZR’vation Only, a food truck featuring Native American-inspired cuisine that is owned and operated by a registered member of the Navajo Nation. The event starts with a Native American spiritual blessing, followed by a ceremonial drum circle that invites everyone to join.

The annual event is named in honor of the Payaya people who were indigenous to the San Antonio area. “Yanaguana” was the word they used to describe what is now known as the San Antonio River. The festival groups with historical roots in the San Antonio area and highlights a core pillar of Western art featured in the Briscoe’s collection. The festival has been held annually since the museum opened, with 2020’s event taking place virtually. Fun for all ages to enjoy, so come on down with your family and friends! Register today!

Crafts happening throughout the day!

Pinch Pot

Leather Medallions

Traditional Basket Weaving

Big Community Basket

Paper Plate Baskets

Cardboard Loom Weaving

Coloring Pages

Ledger Art Coloring Pages

Reading Zone

Make Your Own Spin Drum

Make Your Own Bison Hide Art

Ongoing Artist Demonstrations & Artists Selling

Tim Blueflint (Fine Art Flutes and jewelry)

Kevin Quannie (Katsina Carving)

Shane Hendren (Jewelry)

George Levi (Ledger Art)

All ongoing artist demonstrations will be located in the Jack Guenther Pavilion.

Schedule of activities:

10:00 AM : McNutt Sculpture Garden

Blessing

Join us as we open our annual festival with a spiritual blessing by United San Antonio Pow Wow, Inc., a group that works to provide Native American people the opportunity to participate, practice, teach and exchange tribal traditions among all tribes and to enlighten everyone about the history and culture of America’s first inhabitants.

10:00 – 10 15 AM : McNutt Sculpture Garden

Enemy Horse Drumming Performance

A Pow Wow-style drum circle kicks off the day with United San Antonio Pow Wow and Enemy Horse Drumming demonstrating and explaining common Pow Wow dance styles.

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM : Clingman Gallery

Educational Table with Amy Bluemel

A gifted storyteller and educator, Amy Bluemel’s appreciation for cultural awareness came early: raised in a military family, she lived in Germany, Okinawa, Turkey and Scotland before returning to her Chickasaw roots in America. As the great-granddaughter of Eastman Kaney (an original Dawes Commission enrollee), Bluemel is a proud member of the Chickasaw Nation and often performs with the dance troupe Chikashsha Hithla during nationwide tours. She shares Chickasaw customs (and those of other southeastern tribes) with audiences of all ages.

10:15 – 11:15 AM : McNutt Sculpture Garden

Pow Wow Dance and Drumming Performance

United San Antonio Pow Wow, Inc. and Enemy Horse Drumming

The intertribal USAPW, Inc. demonstrates and explains common pow wow dance styles:  Men’s Fancy Feather, Straight, Traditional, and Grass; and Women’s Jingle, Fancy Shawl, Straight, and Southern Cloth.

11:15 – 11:30 AM : McNutt Sculpture Garden

Enemy Horse Drumming Performace

11:30 AM : Clingman Gallery

Storytelling with Amy Bluemel

12:00 – 1:00 PM : McNutt Sculpture Garden

Contemporary Flute Performance by Ryan LittleEagle

Live music from San Antonio native contemporary flute player Ryan LittleEagle. Of mixed Lakota/Taino and Latino heritage, LittleEagle is a multi-award-winning international performer and musician.

1:00 – 1:45 PM : McNutt Sculpture Garden

Great Promise Dancers Performance

3:00 – 4:00 PM : Clingman Gallery

Educational Table with Amy Bluemel

3:00 – 4:00 PM : Jack Guenther Pavilion – 1st Floor

Contemporary Native Flute Performance by Tim Blueflint Ramel (Bad River Chippewa/Commanche)

Artist, educator, and performer Tim Blue?int draws his creative and musical in?uence from the memories and stories shared by his family and those who have graced his life. An enrolled member of the Bad River Band of the Lake Superior Chippewa, a federally recognized American Indian Tribe, flute player Blueflint Ramel has opened for and shared the stage with Grammy Award Winner Mary Youngblood and a wide variety of artists.

He is also an accomplished flute and jewelry maker and will demonstrate his craft throughout the day. As a self-taught musician and artist, Blue?int has shared his improvisational traditional music, art and memories as a featured performer at venues throughout Indian Country and beyond.

Date : November 11, 2023

Time : 10:00am - 4:00pm

Location :

The Briscoe Western Art Museum

210 West Market Street

San Antonio, TX 78205

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