The Twin Cities will host several art events this weekend, celebrating Indigenous, Oromo, and Ecuadorian cultures. In St. Paul, Indigenous Roots will hold a two-day celebration of Indigenous creativity, featuring a concert by youth musicians and a literary fair with over 10 authors and publishers.

Indigenous Roots Celebration

The concert, titled ‘Rock the Rez,’ will debut songs by four newly formed bands, all consisting of Indigenous girls, Two Spirit, LGBTQ+, and gender-diverse youth. The bands were formed through a summer music camp led by Rock the Rez, which aims to provide a safe space for youth to express themselves through music.

The following day, Mashkiki Studios will host ‘The Story Lodge,’ a literary fair featuring authors, publishers, and artists. The event will include panel discussions, book shopping, and workshops on topics such as plant seed swapping and sweetgrass braiding.

Other Events

In addition to the events at Indigenous Roots, the Twin Cities will also host a pollinator festival, a night market, and an exhibit on Oromo life. The pollinator festival, titled ‘Greenway PollaPalooza,’ will celebrate monarch butterflies and native bees, while the night market will feature local food trucks and live music.

The exhibit, titled ‘Mara: 40 Years of Oromo Knowledge Making,’ will showcase Oromo life across the diaspora through art, photography, and installations. The exhibit marks the 40th anniversary of the Oromo Studies Association, which has advanced Oromo scholarship and preserved knowledge of the Indigenous Oromo system of governance.

Ecuadorian bands, folk dance ensembles, and food trucks will also head to the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District for the second annual Ecuafiesta, celebrating Ecuador’s Independence Day.

Original reporting: Sahan Journal — read the source article.