Indigenous Arts and Music Fest Raises Awareness of Authenticity

The 3rd Annual Indigenous Arts and Music Festival at Big Cypress Reservation raised awareness of the importance of purchasing and supporting indigenous arts — not just those mimicking the styles. 

“It’s more about educating the people surrounding us,” said Seminole Tribe of Florida’s Big Cypress Councilwoman Mariann Billie.  

People new to Florida may not know of the two federally recognized tribes in the state - the Seminole and Miccosukee Tribes, Billie said.  

“If you’re out west, you’re surrounded by tribes,” she added. “We’re showing we’re still here. We’re still present. We’re not people of the past. We’re people of today. We’re modern, everyday people,” said Billie.  

The three-day festival hosted by the Seminole Tribe of Florida was held Thursday, February 6 through Saturday, February 8, at the reservation’s rodeo grounds in Clewiston with vendors from throughout North America.  

Many visitors said they were from Florida while some came from outside of the country to attend multiple American Indigenous events throughout the month, including the IAMF, Seminole Tribal Fair and Pow Wow held the week prior, and the upcoming Brighton Field Day, scheduled Thursday, February 13 through Sunday, February 16 on the Brighton Reservation.  

Miley Davidovic, a jewelry designer with the company Apocalypse London, is from Switzerland and said she has long been inspired by Native American culture, drawing her to Florida’s two federally recognized tribes during her recent visit to Florida. She began with a visit to the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians and then came to the IAMF on Saturday, February 8, hosted by the Seminole Tribe. 

Davidovic showed the earrings she was wearing that she made and shared the geometric shapes were inspired by Indigenous art. However, she wasn’t sure of the meaning and did not copy or mimic any precise design, she said.  

Davidovic came all the way to the IAMF in Clewiston, as well as visiting other Florida events and towns throughout the state, specifically to learn the Indigenous culture and show her desire to honor it. Her experience was one of many demonstrating that IAMF is meeting its goal to inform.  

“Where are those manufactured?” a nearby guest at the IAMF asked vendors Releana Begay and Mun Manymules, who are women of the Navajo Nation in Northern Arizona. 

They both attend all three February Indigenous events as traveling vendors and share cultural ideas with other Indigenous groups.  

“They’re not manufactured anywhere. They are handmade,” Begay replied.  

On Sunday, not far from the Miccosukee Village along U.S. 41 in eastern Collier County, a van on the side of the road attracted passersby with its sign “Indian-styled art.” 

Billie discouraged support of such things. 

“Fashion designers use the patchwork. We can’t make a copyright on things. If you really want to buy native, support our Indigenous people, not buying native inspired,” Billie said.  

“The weekend uplifted Indigenous voices and artists no matter the medium that they use,” said Kyle Mann, designer of a buffalo ribbon skirt finished during the IAMF.