Board of Directors Jordan Levy, Chairman David J. Colligan Michael DiVirgilio Maureen O. Hurley Julie M.

Barrett ONeill Mindy Rich Chris Collins, Ex Officio Byron W. Brown, Ex Officio Historic District Task Group Jordan Levy, Chair Richard G. Berger, Esq. Bruno Cagliostro Henry Giorino Mark Goldman Peter F. Hunt Kathy Konst Eric Lander Newel Nussbaumer Christel Peacock Paul Redding Casmiro Rodriguez Mike Schmand Lynda H. Schneekloth Catherine Schweitzer Tim Tielman Outer Harbor Task Group David J. Colligan, Chair Anthony Anderson, P.E. Alan Bedenko, Esq. Louis Benton II Vince Connors Tucker Curtin Peter Demakos, P.E. John M. Fell, AICP Don Finkle Sergio Fornasiero Mark Goldman Marti Gorman Erin Heaney Bill Jones Renata Kraft Scott McKee Laurence McMahon John Montaque Carl Montante, Jr. William Nowak Alan Oberst Marc Odien Jud Payne Anne Perry Alfred Price David Stebbins Pierre Wallinder Marty Walters Buffalo River Task Group Julie Barrett ONeill, Chair Justin Booth William Breeser Ronald Chapin Timothy Delaney Lisa DuBois Jessie Fisher Erin Heaney Leanna Hefferman Jill Jedlicka Laura Kelly William Novak Jackie OBannon Margaret Overdorf Carl Paladino Lorraine Pierro Daryl Rasuli Sam Savarino Erin Sharkey Jim Simon Steven Stepniak Gregory Stevens Gerhardt Yaskow Greg Wisniewski Rick Smith III James Simon Jennifer Sepulveda Cultural Task Group Maureen O. Hurley, Chair Peter B. Dow, Chair Cindy Abbott-Letro Ted Bickford Melissa Brown Kevin Cottrell Donna Fernandez Dottie Gallagher-Cohen Duncan Hay Paul Hogen Michael Kimmelberg Barbara Park-Leggett Thomas Mooney John S. Montague Mark Mortenson Christopher Schoepflin Catherine Schweitzer Art Selection Task Group Jordan Levy, Chair Molly Donovan Sandra Q. Firmin Louis Grachos Michael Joseph

95 Perry Street, Suite 500 Buffalo, NY 14203-3030 P: (716) 846-8200 F: (716) 846-8260 www.eriecanalharbor.com

For Immediate Release: August 4, 2011 Contact: Erich Weyant (ECHDC) | eweyant@empire.state.ny.us| 716.846.8258

Buffalo Creek Native Festival Coming to Canalside This Weekend Festival will focus on telling the story of the Seneca and Haudenosaunee peoples through crafts, performances and food. Canalside will play host to the Buffalo Creek Native Festival on Saturday, August 6 and Sunday, August 7. This family oriented event will focus on an important but often overlooked segment of Buffalo s cultural history, that of the Seneca and other Haudenosaunee peoples who inhabited the Buffalo Creek Reservation prior to the 1840s. This free event will provide authentic, hands-on experiences for visitors, allowing them to become immersed in the unique cultural heritage and traditions that local Native people still practice today. The festival will celebrate Native culture through food, visual and performing arts, games and activities and demonstrations of traditional customs. The story of Buffalo and the Seneca people are inextricably connected, and this festival will provide visitors with the opportunity to explore the fascinating Native American history that took place in the city of Buffalo. A highlight of the festival will occur at noon on Saturday, as Seneca performers reenact, from the Native American perspective, historic events that took place at the Buffalo Creek Reservation from 1825 1842, beginning with a journey down the Buffalo River to Canalside, the site of their ancestral home. We are pleased to welcome the Buffalo Creek Native Festival, said Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation (ECHDC) Cultural Advisory Chair Maureen Hurley. Buffalo s waterfront has played a role in the history of many peoples, and this is an opportunity to experience a culture that is too often overlooked. I encourage everyone to come to Canalside this weekend and enjoy this one of a kind event. Participation is not only welcomed but encouraged throughout the entire festival. Craft workshops will be open to the public, providing children and adults of all ages with hands-on experience in making Seneca and Iroquois crafts, led by

educators from the Native Roots Artists Guild. Social songs will be explained, and dancers dressed in traditional regalia will demonstrate Haudenosaunee dances. Instruction will be given on how to play traditional games such as the hoop, javelin and longball. Traditional and contemporary works of art, including baskets, cornhusk crafts, carving, and beadwork, handmade by native artists, will be on display and available for purchase. Saturday Activities 10 a.m. - Ganonyok (opening prayer) by Longhouse representative; Native Art and Food Market opens. 11 a.m. - Seneca Stories Theatrical storyteller tells traditional Seneca stories geared toward children. Noon - Historical Reenactment Seneca performers will reenact, from the Native American perspective, historic events taking place at the Buffalo Creek Reservation from 1825 1842. 1 p.m. - Music and Dance Presentation The traditional dance group will demonstrate specific dances that are unique to the Native Nations in this region, explain the meanings and stories behind the dances and music, and invite spectators to join in and learn the dances. 2 p.m. - Traditional Games and Crafts Children will have the option to take part in a traditional Seneca game or craft activity led by educators from the Seneca Language and Cultural program and the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum. 3 p.m. - Seneca Stories 4 p.m. - Traditional Games and Crafts 5 p.m. - Music and Dance Presentation 7 9 p.m. - Haudenosaunee Social 8 p.m. - Vendors close Sunday Activities 10 a.m. - Native Art and Food Market opens 11 a.m. - Seneca Stories

Noon - Historical Reenactment 1 p.m. - Music and Dance Presentation 2 p.m. - Traditional Games and Crafts 3 p.m. - Seneca Stories 4 p.m. - Traditional Games and Crafts 5 p.m. - Music and Dance Presentation 6 p.m. - Ganonyok (closing prayer); vendors close. The Erie Canal Harbor Development Corporation is a subsidiary agency of Empire State Development Corporation whose vision is to revitalize Western New York s waterfront and restore economic growth to Buffalo based on the region s legacy of pride, urban significance and natural beauty. ###