The 18th IIAmericas Celebration is an annual event sponsored by the intertribal nonprofit organization, the Indigenous Institute of Americas. The IIAC event supports our mission to provide relevant and accurate experiences that educate and demystify the many cultures representing the first people of the Americas. Our activities and philosophy are welcoming to both Native and Non-Native patrons. We see this event as an opportunity to engage the public in our love for the environment, music, dance, food, laughter, and relationships.
Our venue is located at 101 Chisholm Trail, Cleburne, TX 76033, 30 miles south of Fort Worth, Texas. It is on the sacred buffalo trails of north Texas; the area is known to the Kiowa as “ahn daw gaw been’ “where the prairie meets the big trees. (Thank you, Michael Tongkeamha, our Head Gourd Dancer, for this teaching.)
IIAC is known for its variety of activities and attractions. Our event reflects the diversity of our Nations. Some of our guest performers have said they have traveled the powwow trail, been all over the country, and have never seen so many creative fun happenings at this event. There are children’s activities, a super art market, presentations by the Native community, a powwow, powwow dance showcases, and much more. We aren’t just a powwow or an art market; we are an experience!
Young people are included in our leadership roles. We want to help the next generation feel comfortable planning events and learning cultural protocols. We hope you will bring your children too. We know it’s hard to leave the children and grandchildren at home. This is a safe outdoor venue; everyone is encouraged to dress appropriately and wear sturdy tennis or hiking shoes.
Our volunteers do their best to make everyone of all ages and all cultures feel welcome. We want the patrons to stay all day and leave our event with a joyful experience. We hope you share this information with your friends and organizations. Feel free to advertise other organizations and markets you may be attending. We like our patrons to get “hooked” on our art and culture.
Our 18th annual event is honoring the Sunflower seed – Apache (añil, non yile)
IIAmericas Celebration – is a scheduled event of the Indigenous Institute of the Americas, a 501 (C) 3 nonprofit organization in Texas.