We are pleased to invite you to the 2026 Indigenous Peoples Day event on the Idyllwild Arts Campus. This FREE event, now in its sixth year, is open to the public and honors the significant artistic contributions of Indigenous artists worldwide.

The program features two morning keynote presentations by Diné indie punk rock band Sihasin and actor/writer/producer Tai Leclaire, both leading Native American arts educators who will discuss cultural resilience, how art conveys important messages, and the issues faced by Indigenous Peoples today. 

The afternoon includes a complimentary Indigenous Foods Luncheon with dishes from tribal communities across the country, including the crowd favorite frybread. During lunch, guests can enjoy a performance by the Diné indie punk rock band Sihasin. Guests can also participate in culturally inspired hands-on activities, visit and support artist vendors and community partners, or visit guest artists in residence at the Glassblowing Hot Shop to learn and try glassblowing with Hopi glass artists, Ramson Lomatewama and Ayen Talashoma. 

SCHEDULE:

9 am | Welcome Address by Pamela Jordan and Shaliyah Ben, and Bird Singers

9:30 am | Keynote Presentations in Lowman and Bowman theatres

10:30 – 10:45 am | Break

10:45 am – 11:45 am | Keynote Presentations by Sihasin and Tai Leclaire in Lowman and Bowman theatres

12:00 pm | Indigenous Foods Luncheon in Cargill Commons

12:30 pm | Live Musical Set by Diné indie punk band Sihasin

12:15 pm – 4 pm | Hands-on Activities, Lakota Hand Games Tournament, community partners tables, Native artist vendors

ABOUT THE KEYNOTE PRESENTERS:

Diné indie punk rock band Sihasin inspires hope, respect, and cultural appreciation through their music and activism for social and environmental justice. The band is led by brother and sister Clayson and Jeneda Benally, who perform alongside their father, Jones Benally, an Arizona Indian Living Treasure and renowned Hoop Dancer. The band recently returned from a tour of Mongolia, China, and several regions in the United States. 

Tai Leclaire is a director, writer, and actor from the Mohawk Nation of Kahnawà:ke, now based in Los Angeles. He’s the voice of the iconic ‘Joseph Gribble’ on KING OF THE HILL (FOX) and was a story editor and actor for RUTHERFORD FALLS (NBC/PEACOCK) and SUPER TEAM CANADA (CRAVE). His debut short HEADDRESS premiered at the 2023 SUNDANCE FILM FESTIVAL; his follow-up, THE PRINCE AND THE PAUPER, was produced by Warner Bros. Studios and now streams on HBO MAX. His acting credits span NBC, SHUDDER, PBS, and DROPOUT. He’s an alumnus of the SUNDANCE INSTITUTE and TIFF development programs; he’s been featured at the 2025 JUST FOR LAUGHS festival, as well as on The Black List. He is a former house performer at Upright Citizen’s Brigade Theatre.