Akwesasne Artisan Showcase

On Saturday May 26th, some of Akwesasne's talented artists had the opportunity to show off their artwork, basketry, beadwork, clothing and much more. The event took place at the Akwesasne Housing Authority Training Center and it was open to the public to come and check out the artist's booth and live demonstrations. The doors were open to the public from 10am until 3pm, but connections were made that will last a lifetime. Many of the artists brought their finished work, but if there was something specific that a customer wanted, a lot of the artists were willing to do custom orders also. There was something for everyone, whether it be beaded earrings, baskets, paintings, photos, ribbon skirts, cornhusk dolls, maple syrup, greeting cards, quilts, moccasins and much more. Everything was made locally by some of Akwesasne's finest artists.

The event was organized and sponsored by the Saint Regis Mohawk Tribe's Cultural Tourism Initiative. What set this event apart from any other vendor show or craft fair was the artists being invited to be a part of the showcase instead of paying to attend.

One artist Sydney Jacobs stated "some powwows, it costs $100 or more to have a booth. Then you're hoping you make your money back. I was invited to this event, so it was a little different."

The event had a great turnout, with plenty of people showing up ready to spend some money in return for a beautiful piece of art and craftwork. Many of the artists are well known in Akwesasne, while others are like hidden gems. It is nice to see someone thinking of way to help showcase all the talent in Akwesasne.