Our second annual benefit concert was a beautiful gathering in which friendships were formed and rekindled.

We had a beautiful lineup of artists whose presence helped to co-create a flow of joy and dance. The Waterfall Unity Alliance had the honor of working with Kanien’kehá:ka (People of the Flint) women artists who shared their unique gifts in their ancestral homelands. Semiah Smith (accompanied by Maggie Powless-Lynes on keys), Kahsenniyo Williams, Mercedes Terrance, and Theresa Bear Fox embodied the love and empowerment within their bloodlines with their remarkable voices, actively rematriating the land.

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Onkwehonwe (Original Beings) artists from our confederacy helped to raise the vibration with our traditional songs. Members of The Onondaga Women’s Singing Society (Wayva Lyons Waterman and daughter, Liv Bigtree, Summer Rinaldi, Helen Shenandoah, Ina Mae Lyons, and Danielle Smith) set the tone for the festival by opening the concert with Esganye (Women’s Dance Songs). Tuscarora cultural teacher, singer, and dancer Randy Greene sang some of our traditional Onkwehonwe social dance songs on night 2 of the festival. Lloyd Elm (Onondaga) & Elizabeth Elm shared some traditional songs along with songs to bring joy. To close out, singers from across our confederacy gathered to put on a social dance in which we all raised our vibrations and connected with the land at Iosti’tsison (Skywoman) Forever Farm.

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We had a total of 33 artists join us for the duration of the festival who all came together to share their gifts and passion in the ancestral homelands of the Kanien’kehá:ka. We had a significant amount of allies join us to share their talents and light. Colin Carew joined us not only as an ally artist, but as a remarkable volunteer who shared the stage with fellow volunteers providing percussion. Keith Secola uplifted the spirits of us all through his presence. Throughout his time here, he jammed out and connected with many artists, including Kanien’kehá:ka artists Atsiaktonkie David & “Tear Bear” of December Wind. Niawenko:wa to all the beautiful beings who came together to celebrate and honor the Kanien’kehá:ka in their return to ancestral homelands.