Idyllwild Arts to Present 4th Annual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration

Idyllwild Arts will present its 4th annual Indigenous Peoples Day Celebration on October 14, 2024 at their Idyllwild, CA campus from 9am to 4pm followed by an off-campus performance from 6pm to 9pm at Harvey House. This free event honors the significant contributions made by Indigenous people through arts and culture. Now in its fourth year, this unique celebration presented by the Native American Arts Center at Idyllwild Arts highlights Indigenous artists and represents Idyllwild Arts' commitment to a "Living Land Acknowledgement" that activates community through dialogue and continuing education.

Idyllwild Arts is an institution rooted in respect, reverence, and support for Native American people, culture, and art, and is the only residential arts high school in the country to offer a Native American Arts Center led by a Native American Executive Director, Shaliyah Ben (Diné). Idyllwild Arts respectfully acknowledges the Qawishpa Cahuillangnah (also known as Cahuilla Band of Indians) on whose land the Idyllwild Arts community resides.

The special public program is designed to educate and uplift the Native American community with guest artists, scholars, and performers who will share a vast array of knowledge based on traditional philosophies. The overall goal is to reconcile Native American history with United States history through programming that supports calls to action for recognition and reconciliation.

The day will be headlined by the Delbert Anderson Quartet (DAQ), led by Diné jazz trumpet artist, composer, and educator Delbert Anderson. The DAQ revives the improvised sounds of Diné songs, blending them with jazz, funk, and hip-hop. Anderson's compositions are inspired by Diné Bikéyah, Navajo Nation landscapes, historical events, and the desire to preserve and educate about Diné history. His achievements have garnered recognition including multiple awards from Chamber Music America, the Cultural Capital Fellowship from the First Peoples Fund, and the Jazz Road Program at South Arts. Delbert Anderson recently performed at the Kennedy Center and has gained national recognition with recent feature coverage in The New York Times, SF Gate and NPR, to name a few.

Another highlight of the Indigenous Peoples Day event is ensuring that the Idyllwild Arts community are good neighbors and, each year now, Idyllwild Arts has welcomed students from Sherman Indian School in Riverside, CA, to join the IA student body for a fun day of learning.

This phenomenal day of education and fun is made possible by generous partners in learning such as the Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Augustine Band of Cahuilla Indians, the Cahuilla Band of Indians, and an Anonymous Foundation.

October 14, 2024

Daylong Programming:

IDYLLWILD ARTS CAMPUS - 52500 Temecula Road, Idyllwild, CA 92549

9am: Welcoming

The day of celebration will commence with a welcome by:

Pamela Jordan, President, Idyllwild Arts Foundation

Shaliyah Ben, Executive Director, Native American Arts Center

Michael Madrigal (Mountain Cahuilla), President, Native American Land Conservancy

9:30am - 12:00pm: Morning Presentations

Students, staff, faculty, and the public are welcomed to join two public presentations, including the Delbert Anderson Jazz Quartet.

12pm: Complimentary Indigenous Foods Luncheon with Music Performance

Outdoor luncheon will feature Indigenous foods, including crowd-favorite frybread, and a high-energy DJ set by Idyllwild Arts Academy alum Kino Benally (Diné), also known as DJ Béeso.

1:30 - 4pm: Glassblowing Demonstration

Public open studio visit with Hopi glass artists Ramson Lomatewama and Ayen Talashoma. Guests are encouraged to make their own glass flower! IA Indigenous Peoples Club will be selling artwork to support this year's club activities!

HARVEY HOUSE - 54420 S. Circle Drive, Idyllwild, CA 92549

6:00 - 6:45pm:

Delbert Anderson Quartet "11th Note" Live Recording, "The Long Walk: 1674 Days". A commemorative composition for instruments in any key to acknowledge the forced relocation of Diné people in 1864.

6:45 - 7:15pm

Flute Music by Randy Kemp (Choctaw, Muscogee Creek, and Euchee) of Artificial Red

7:30 - 8:30pm

The Delbert Anderson Quartet

For the full event schedule, please visit https://idyllwildarts.org/indigenous-peoples-day/

WHEN: Monday, October 14, 2024

WHERE: Idyllwild Arts Academy (52500 Temecula Road, Idyllwild CA 92549) and Harvey House in Idyllwild (54420 S. Circle Drive, Idyllwild-Pine Cove, CA 92549)

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