The Miccosukee Indian Arts & Crafts Festival is an annual celebration in Miami, Florida, at the Miccosukee Indian Village. This wintertime festival honors tradition of gathering and bringing together the community in South Florida with the First Nations and Aboriginal members of North America.
Organized by the Miccosukee Tribe of Indians of Florida, the Miccosukee Indian Arts and Crafts Festival occurs during the last week of December before the new year. The Miccosukee Indian Village sits approximately one hour west of Miami Beach in the heart of the Florida everglades.
If you are in Florida any time of year, stop by the museum to learn about the tribe. And if you happen to be in the everglades in the winter months, be sure to check out this remarkable celebration.
Historic Miccosukee Indian Village
"CHEHANTAMO!" This means "welcome" in the Native Mikasuki Language of the Miccosukee Tribe. When you visit this sacred tribal land, you can learn about the Miccosukee Indians at their Village Museum.
Peruse cultural artifacts, historical documents, and archival photos from hundreds of years ago before White colonization. The museum features rotating exhibits highlighting contemporary Native American, Aboriginal, and First Nations life in the Florida everglades.
About the Miccosukee Indian Arts & Crafts Festival
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The Miccosukee Indian Arts & Crafts Festival lasts for an entire week. It links modern-day lifestyles and the threads that still exist in the incredible Miccosukee tribe. Taste authentic foods, watch alligator demonstrations and see the everglades on an airboat ride.
Well-known Native American dance companies (like the Great Plains Dance Company) perform traditional dances with tribal members from various tribes. Featured artists showcase their work and artisan goods, and singers and dancers commune for a version of a vibrant and fun powwow.
The Festival is sponsored by the Miccosukee Educational Fund. It celebrates the cultural creativity of Native American Tribes while also raising educational programs for the youth.
Alligator Wrestling
Gators are apex predators that have lived for millions of years in the precious ecosystems of the beautiful everglades of South Florida. Attend a gator demonstration, where Native individuals talk about the ancient traditions and rituals passed down for centuries in the Miccosukee lineage. While actual "wrestling" does not happen, you can witness brave people handle the gators for educational and spiritual purposes.
The Miccosukee Indian Village is located at Mile Marker 35 on U.S. Highway 41 in Tamiami Trail, Miami, Florida, 33194. An option for lodging is to stay at the Miccosukee Resort. Visit www.miccosukee.com for more information on the event and how you can support this precious tribe and its people.
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