Syracuse,
NY – April 2015 / Newsmaker Alert / An enhanced and renamed
Six Nations Day, Friday, September 4 at the 2015
Great New York State Fair will bring more of the story of the Iroquois
nations and their people to a wider audience, Acting Fair Director Troy
Waffner and Onondaga Nation Tadodaho Sid Hill announced at a recent press
conference.
The day will begin with the
raising of the Haudenosaunee flag. This will mark the first time in the
Fair’s 175 year history that the flag has flown at the Fairgrounds. It
symbolizes the end of hostilities among the nations and the burial of weapons
beneath the Great Tree of Peace.
Fairgoers will be treated
to a cultural performance at 1:00 p.m. on Chevy
Court when dancers representing the Six Nations will perform social
dances. Those dances provide a window into Haudenosaunee culture.
Following the social dances,
an Upstate band that’s been nominated for national honors will perform.
Syracuse’s The Ripcords are fronted by cousins Irv Lyons, Jr. and Rex Lyons,
who are members of the Oneida and Onondaga nations, respectively. The band
plays a mix of blues, roots rock, country, and swing music. They’ve won
a Syracuse Area Music Award for their 2009 debut album, and were nominated
for Debut Group of the Year by the Native American Music Association.
In addition, the Fair’s Regional
Artists Variety Stage will feature Indian-related musical groups. Those
artists will be announced at a later date.
“We are committed to being
the state fair of all of New York and this is one of several enhancements
we’re making to highlight the diversity of culture in our state. Haudenosaunee
culture is vibrant and alive. I am very excited about this and hope that
everyone will take a moment to embrace and extend their understanding of
the Six Nations and its people,” said Waffner.
“We are very pleased and
grateful that the New York State Fair is recognizing the Six Nations and
is providing a showcase for the culture of native people and entertainers,”
said Hill.
Members of any Indian tribe
receive free admission that day. Traditional dances take place three times
each day during the Fair on the Turtle Mound in the Indian Village. Traditional
crafts are for sale in the village and the village’s restaurant is open
throughout the day. On Six Nations Day, the restaurant serves a Thanksgiving
dinner of turkey and all the trimmings, available at lunchtime until the
food is gone.
The New
York State Fair, operated by the New
York State Department of Agriculture and Markets, runs from August
27 – September 7, 2015. The Fair’s mission, reflected in its theme, “Summer’s
Best in Show,” is to showcase the best of New York agriculture while providing
top-quality entertainment.
In addition to the annual
New York State Fair, the Fairgrounds host dozens of agricultural events
throughout the year, including some of the Northeast’s most prestigious
horse and livestock shows.
The home of the Great New
York State Fair is a 375-acre exhibit and entertainment complex that operates
all year. A year-round
schedule of events is available on the Fair’s
website. Find The Great New
York State Fair on Facebook, follow @NYSFair
on Twitter, and enjoy photos from the Fair at Flickr.com/photos/nysfair.
Also, New Yorkers are invited to send their ideas for the Great New York
State Fair at statefairideas@agriculture.ny.gov.
Media Contacts:
Joe
Morrissey
Public Information Officer
NYS Department of Agriculture
& Markets
518-457-0752
Dave
Bullard
Public Relations
New York State Fair
315-487-7711 x 1377 |