Traditional Music and Dance Informance with Native Nations Intertribal

Held at the Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum in Natchitoches, this free event will feature members of Native Nations Intertribal, who will symbolically open the 46th annual Natchitoches-NSU Folk Festival with traditional music and dance. The performance will be a preview of the group’s performances at the Festival on July 18. Members of Native Nations Intertribal will also engage in a discussion of their traditions with anthropologist Dr. Hiram “Pete” Gregory, an expert on Southeastern Native American tribes and culture. Dr. Gregory will also facilitate an audience Q&A with Native Nations Intertribal.

Performances take place at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m.

By the People: Conversations Beyond 250 is a series of community-driven programs created by humanities councils across the United States, its territories, and the District of Columbia in collaboration with local partners. Together, these programs explore 250 years of the nation’s cultural life and imagine its shared future. The initiative was developed by the Federation of State Humanities Councils and the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage as a complement to the 2026 Smithsonian Folklife Festival.