Native American summer celebration begins May 28-30

James Peshlakai performs along Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

James Peshlakai performs along Grand Canyon’s South Rim.

GRAND CANYON, Ariz. - Memorial Day Weekend, May 28-30, will mark the 11th annual summer long series of Native American art shows and performances in the Grand Canyon community of Tusayan. Visitors to the Canyon this Memorial Day Weekend will see performances by Ryon Polequaptewa and his Hopi dancers. Dance performances throughout the summer will include five-time World Champion Hoop Dancers Hopi/Choctaw Derrick Davis and San Carlos Apache Tony Duncan.

The Tusayan Art Show is held every weekend all summer long through Labor Day and will feature dance groups from tribes throughout Arizona, Utah, and New Mexico. The art shows, surrounded by the cool pines of the Kaibab National Forest, feature artisans, craftspeople, and musicians at the cross roads of world travel. Native American food is part of the weekend festival experience.

The Grand Canyon Native American programs were inaugurated in 1999 by James and Mae Peshlakai of the Navajo Cameron Chapter on the east side of the Grand Canyon in remembrance of their son, a wonderful hoop dancer and musician, Jameson Clyde Peshlakai. James Peshlakai was a mentor to world famous author Tony Hillerman - his name appears in several Hillerman novels and the Wailing Wind is dedicated to the Peshlakai Cultural Foundation. Travel information can be found at www.GrandCanyonChamber.com.

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