SARASOTA – For the past 11 years the Sarasota Native American Indian Festival has been a staple of the Suncoast. Several tribes were in attendance to share the history of their culture. Alejandro Romero reports.
“The Sarasota Festival is really focused on bringing authentic culture to Sarasota,” says Barbara Huntoon, one of the founders of the festival.
Huntoon and her husband founded the Native American Indian Festival in 2008 as a way to teach the culture of native Florida tribes.
“We have a lot of people who enjoy Native American culture and art a lot of collectors, so we have an opportunity here to bring in some of the fine artist to Sarasota and bring their culture and tradition,” says Huntoon.
More than 30 artists brought traditional native American artifacts like dream catchers, flutes and jewelry – each piece having a historical value to each tribe.
“We don’t have any imports we ask all of our artist it has to be native made and you’re representing tradition and authentic culture,” Huntoon says.
Jayne Blair who’s 105 years old says she has attended this festival since its inception and loves to support the Florida tribes. “In the first place I like to support what they do – and the second place I always find something fun to take home,” says Blair
Blair says what always catches her eye are the handmade jewelry. “Today I bought a long string of turquoise jewelry easy to wear and I like getting something from them,” she says.
Huntoon hopes to open a gallery to sell her late husband’s art to continue his legacy and to continue spreading the culture of Native Americans.
“Native American culture is strong and alive and it’s throughout every state we have native American communities so for here in Sarasota we have the opportunity to bring that all together and present it and share it with the whole area,” says Huntoon.
