"Green corn festivals are still practiced today by many different native peoples of the Southeastern Woodland Culture. The Green Corn Ceremony typically coincides in the late summer and is tied to the ripening of the corn crops. The ceremony is marked with dancing, feasting, fasting and religious observations." - Wikipedia
The Native American Indian Market & Green Corn Festival at the Institute for American Indian Studies, 38 Curtis Rd., Washington, Conn., happens Saturday Aug. 8, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday, Aug. 9 noon to 4 p.m.
Native American crafters, jewelers and artists, art and culture.
Traditional Eastern Woodland style song and dance with performances by the Wampanoag dancers and singers and Ojibwa artist Allan Madahbee.
Family activities. Charge for museum admission; $10 adults; $6 youth. Call (860) 868-0518 for details.
About The Institute for American Indian Studies
The image of a basket (above) made in what is now western Connecticut is part of the online collection of IAIS. Those who cannot get to the museum can peruse the richness of the ethnographic collection online.
Edmund Swigart, an instructor at the Gunnery School, led the Wappinger Chapter of the Connecticut Archaeological Society from 1966 to 1970 with a focus on the Kirby Brook Site digs. In 1971, the chapter was incorporated as the Shepaug Valley Archaeological Society. With their collections growing and no place to exhibit them, co-founders Ned Swigart and Sidney Hessel began a capital campaign to raise monies and the American Indian Archaeological Institute was born. In 1975 the AIAI Visitor Center was officially dedicated. In 1978 the longhouse classroom and research library were opened and one year later the outdoor replicated Algonkian Indian Village was created.
The focus of the institute has always been stewardship and preservation. In 1991, the name was changed to the Institute for American Indian Studies.
