The Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum has added more thrilling attractions including a riveting display of tribal weaponry and demonstration by the Māori King’s bodyguard at the American Indigenous Arts Celebration (AIAC). The event takes place November 3-4, on the museum’s festival grounds in Big Cypress from 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM on both days.

The AIAC is one of the top festivals in the Southeast and will feature an exciting array of Seminole and Indigenous art, music, food, dance and more. Attendees can shop among the numerous booths of Native artists, and craft vendors, while enjoying delicious Seminole cuisine, including fresh fry bread. 

Event highlights will include the exciting return of New Zealand’s HAKA Māori Cultural Experience with new additions such as Māori Tā Moko traditional tattoo demonstration, weaponry display with demonstration by the King’s bodyguard and collaboration with Seminole woodcarvers Daniel Tommie, Tylor Tigertail, and Māori carver Taroi Rawiri to build a Seminole dugout canoe with Māori influence that will be showcased during the event. The HAKA Māori Cultural Experience will use all the proceeds from the Seminole’s tattoo bookings to benefit the National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center (NIWRC).

Even more, a collaboration of live painting will take place at the Stage 360 with both Seminole Artist, Elgin Jumper and Māori Artist, Regan Balzer to the inspirational Māori music (Taonga Puoro) played live by Māori musician Solomon Horo.

Additionally, guests can look forward to adult and youth fashion shows, live alligator wrestling and Native American dance performances by Native Pride at the event.

This year’s commemorative AIAC design created by Marc Wymer MāoriTā Moko artist is a collaboration between the use of Seminole designs, such as use of the historic Council Oak Tree, Seminole Patchwork and traditional Māori imagery designs and draws upon cultural iconography of significance to the Seminole Tribe of Florida and to the tangata whenua (people of the land) of the Waikato Tainui region of Aotearoa (New Zealand). This weaving together of cultural symbolism represents the exchange of culture between indigenous peoples and the celebration of indigenous heritage at the AIAC during Native American Month.

Admission is $10 for adults and $7.50 for seniors and students. Tribal members, children four and under, and museum members are free. There’s also a special group discount of $5 per person for parties of 10 or more who book in advance. Admission includes entrance to the event as well as the museum with its mile-long boardwalk. Parking is free.

For more information, please visit https://www.ahtahthiki.com/AIAC/.