Annual Festival Gets Bigger and Better

By Susan Etxebarria

BRIGHTON — The grounds of the 67th Annual Brighton Reservation Arts & Crafts Festival & Rodeo were crammed tight this year with a large variety of quality booths displaying authentic Indian products. On display were crafts from the Navajos of Arizona, Aztecs of Mexico, Incas of Ecuador and an array of handmade Seminole dolls, beadwork, clothing and art.

A favorite stop was the Authentic Seminole Living Village , where festival-goers had the chance to watch the Tribe’s artisans carve wood, cook, sew and make the intricate beadwork that is the hallmark of the Tribe.

The festival was exceptional this year with more booths, more entertainment, fantastic professional rodeo, and fantastic crowds. There were even more food booths selling traditional Seminole foods. There were booths selling books, videos and CDs about Native American tribes. There was a Cherokee herbalist selling sage and other ceremonial and medicinal herbs, there was an Inca flutist selling his CDs, and numerous booths featuring the handcrafts by Seminoles from the Trail and Seminoles from Immokalee as well as Brighton .

Saturday morning’s parade ended at the stage arena after a long line of wonderful floats and entries passed by the judges. When the school children on the Pull-Out Program's float passed by, parade emcee Willie Johns, told the crowd about the Tribe’s efforts to preserve Seminole culture. Johns teaches the Brighton youth Seminole history and language.

“It is our goal one day to make all the children Muscogee speakers,” he said.

Johns’ commentary on the parade was very informative for the audience comprised primarily of Florida tourists. The teacher explained some of the Tribe’s wonderful programs and achievements, including the Cattle and Range operations, Seminole 4-H, Community Care for the Elderly, Culture and Education. Youths driving their ATVs in the parade were a new addition this year and the seniors in wheelchairs received an extra applause from the crowd. Cattle owners, rodeo queens, princesses and Tribal officials riding their prized horses into the arena added just the right touch.

The judging of the floats resulted in the following winners: 1. Community Care for the Elderly, 2. Brighton Princess Stephanie Smith, 3. Brighton Recreation department, 4. Seminole 4-H and 5. The Board of Directors.

Entertainment throughout the day was both colorful and fun. Johnny U, the smooth-voiced cowboy singer from Idaho , rode his horse into the arena, got close up to the audience sitting in the bleachers and crooned old time favorites while sitting in his saddle. The thrills of watching the alligator wrestlers and snake handlers drew a crowd every time they appeared in the show arena.

The Aztec Dancers and the Bird Chopper Dancers and Singers pleased the crowds as they do every year with the announcing by Ric Bird, a Cherokee of North Carolina, whose three generations of his family capture the traditions of both drum and dance.

In the shadow of all the music and entertainment was woodcarver Victor Billie from the Immokalee reservation sitting on a tree stump at the Seminole cultural camp silently carving a cypress walking stick with his axe. Another woodcarver of much fame showed his work, the fantastic artist Leroy “Henehayo” Osceola of the Everglades . Henehayo is the only remaining renowned Seminole canoe builder.

His massive hand-carved canoe made of cypress drew much interest. Henehayo said “the beauty of nature and the stories and lessons taught by elders provide an unending source of inspiration.”

Hand fabricated silver and gold jewelry by Navajos, Carl and Evelyn Yazzie, is one of the most popular booths present every year. Carl Yazzie designs and makes custom jewelry on the spot, storytelling bracelets that depict the symbols and cultural icons of different Tribes and clans are one of their most popular jewelry pieces.

“We do this from the heart,” said Evelyn Yazzie. “We do this to preserve our cultures.”

On display in one of the chickees at the cultural camp were the entries in the Arts & Crafts Contest. These were authentic handmade crafts, many of them Seminole dress skirts and dress shirts. But, there was a variety of crafts and many submissions.

It wasn’t easy for the judges to choose the best when so many were good. The results of the judging were, as follows: 1. Lottie Huff, clothes, 2. Martha Jones, doll, 3. Lorrine Posada, basket, 4. Joe B. Osceola, woodcarving and 5. Jenine Cypress, patchwork.

One of the most impressive segments of the festival is the Seminole Clothing Contest. The number of entries was outstanding, with many more baby entries this year than previous years. The arena was aglow with the color of the costumes. The audience was transfixed by the cultural display. The competition, as usual, is divided into various age categories and different styles.

Many people came to the festival just to see the Professional Rodeo Cowboys Association (PRCA) Rodeo Saturday or Sunday which featured the best talent in bronc riding, bulldogging, roping, barrel racing, bull riding and wild horse racing. A special star this year was the three time saddle bronc world champion Monty “Hawkeye” Henson.

The entire week leading up to the festival was also a very busy one for Tribal citizens who participated in activities including: a bowling tournament, pool tournament, golf tournament, pole peeling and an archery contest, a community supper and Brighton Princess contest, a 6 a.m. walk on Friday morning, and the Friday night Eastern Indian Rodeo Association (EIRA) Rodeos and crowning of the Rodeo Queens.