Fourth edition of the Indigenous culture festival with a Powwow, the 'Art of Activism' dialogue, music, dance and the screening of 'The Doctrine of Discovery'.
7 Stages Theatre is bringing back the First Voices Festival this November, a celebration of Indigenous cultures, people, and practices that's grown into a multi-day event. It's the fifth edition of the festival, which started in 2022 when 7 Stages teamed up with Turtle Island Trading, Zintkala Zi PowWow, and the Little 5 Points Business Association to bring a Powwow, an Art of Activism dialogue, and live performances to the neighborhood. Since then, it's expanded each year, and this year's lineup spans storytelling, music, dance, and film across three different dates.
Things kick off on Friday, November 20, with Art of Activism, a dialogue held at 7 Stages Theatre at 7 PM. The following weekend, November 21 and 22, the festival moves to a Powwow at 1136 Austin Ave, running from 10 AM to 5 PM both days. The final piece is a screening of the documentary The Doctrine of Discovery on Friday, November 27, at 7 PM at the Plaza Theatre, which has been a partner venue for the festival's film screenings since the beginning. The film is directed by Gwendolen Cates and features an original soundtrack by Pura FĂ©.
Among the people appearing this year are Elder William Harjo of the Muscogee Creek nation, singer-songwriter Mitch Walking Elk of the Southern Cheyenne and Arapaho nations, and chef Tina Reyes of the Apache nation, who runs Rez Juice. The festival's roots in the area run deep: 7 Stages has been on the ancestral and unceded lands of the Muscogee (Creek) people for over 40 years, and they include an Indigenous land use fee in every ticket price, which goes to Indigenous partners. The Plaza Theatre, where the film screening takes place, was founded in 1939.
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As for the logistics, Art of Activism and the Powwow are both free. Tickets for The Doctrine of Discovery screening are coming soon. That puts the dialogue at 7 Stages on November 20 at 7 PM, the Powwow at 1136 Austin Ave on November 21 and 22 from 10 AM to 5 PM, and the film at the Plaza Theatre on November 27 at 7 PM.
