The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians will host a gathering of various Native American tribal dancers, musicians, storytellers and artists from all over the United States in a three-day celebration of cultures.

Festivities will be held at the Cherokee Indian Fairgrounds from 2-9 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 23, and from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturday, Sept. 24. In addition, performers will share their music and dances during student assemblies at 20 public schools throughout Western North Carolina on Thursday, Sept. 22, and Friday, Sept. 23.

As an inaugural event, the Festival of Native Peoples aims to bring together authentic representatives from Native American tribes to share their heritage in dancing, singing, drama, traditional attire, storytelling, art and food. Besides some of the best and brightest talents from the Cherokee nation, including the Mulberry dancers and the Warrior dancers, groups performing at the festival will include Tewa dancers, Aztec dancers and Zuni Olla maidens from Albuquerque, New Mexico; Alutiiq Anguyiit dancers from Anchorage, Alaska; and the Yellow Bird Indian Dancers (Apache) from Phoenix, Arizona.

World-famous flute player Fernando Cellicion and a four-time world champion Apache10-hoop dancer will be on hand as well. Craft vendors selling handmade artwork will set up booths at the fairgrounds on Friday and Saturday, and all dances will take place inside the amphitheatre.

“The festival will help us bring our cultures together and celebrate today’s Native American tribes,” said George Lambert, marketing manager for the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “Each tribe has a rich cultural tradition, and we want to preserve these and highlight their drama, beauty and historical significance.”

While some of the featured performances include pow-wow dances, which tend to be used in tribal competitions that accentuate full regalia and flashy decorations, the Festival of Native Peoples will not involve competitions. Instead, the focus will be on authentic, ceremonial dances that reflect the customs and history of tribes from very different regions in the United States.

It took about a year and a half to two years to line up this festival, according to festival spokesman Robert Jumper. The idea started out as an event to coincide with the opening of the National Museum of American Indians in Washington, D.C., last September, but festival organizers wanted to take the time to lay the foundation for its performances and not present the same types of dancers. By gathering representatives from Plains Indian tribes, Southwestern United States tribes and Alaskan tribes, along with the Cherokee tribe, festival organizers were able to provide a broad range of dancers from the different corners of the country.

“It’ll change from year to year so that more styles are represented,” Jumper said.

In addition to sharing different tribal cultures and entertaining crowds, the goal of the festival is also to educate the general public about the types of dances that Native Americans used and still use. For example, the Cherokee Beaver Dance and Horse Dance give thanks to specific animals that were used as food or for carrying a heavy load. They are seen as a sign of respect toward creatures. The eagle dance, which is common among many tribes, pays tribute to the bird as a most powerful messenger.

As messengers of culture, the Native American dance groups will tour eight elementary schools, four middle schools and eight high schools in Haywood, Jackson, Swain, Macon, Clay, Graham, and Cherokee counties.

These assemblies will offer some audience participation and a sample of what to expect at the festival.

This year, there continues to be more visible attempts by the Cherokee tribe to promote and honor its unique culture, language and history. In addition to road signs and building signs that are now printed in both English and Cherokee, the long-running outdoor drama “Unto These Hills” will be retooled for next summer with many more roles for Cherokee actors, a more authentic Eagle dance, a Cherokee director, and scene changes that emphasize Cherokee customs.

“We’re really striving to have more authenticity in our programs,” Jumper said.

For additional information about the festival call 800.438.1601 or visit the Web site www.cherokee-nc.com or stop by the Cherokee Welcome Center.