Monday, October 12, 2026

Indigenous Peoples Day

This FREE community event honors and celebrates Indigenous resilience through art, culture, and storytelling. Now in its sixth year, Indigenous Peoples Day at Idyllwild Arts highlights the brilliance of Indigenous artists and affirms our commitment to a “Living Land Acknowledgment” through ongoing dialogue, education, and reconciliation.

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Sihasin

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

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.

Event Schedule

Idyllwild Arts Campus

9:00am | Welcoming Remarks and Bird Singing
- Pamela Jordan, Idyllwild Arts President
- Shaliyah Ben, Executive Director of the Native American Arts Center
- Bird Singers
9:30am – 12:00pm | Two Keynote Presentations in William M. Lowman Concert Hall and Bowman IAF Theatre:
- Indie Punk Band Sihasin (Diné)
- Director, Writer, and Actor Tai Leclaire (Mohawk Nation of Kahnawà:ke)
12:00pm – 2:00pm | Complimentary Indigenous Foods Luncheon (Margaret A. Cargill Commons) with special musical performance by Diné indie punk band Sihasin
12:15pm – 4:00pm | Open Activities Including:
- Hopi Hot Shop (Glassblowing) with artists Ramson Lomatewama and Ayen Talashoma
- Lakota Hand Games Tournament
- Music, cultural song and dance performances
- Native artist vendors
- Hands-on activities and community engagement with Idyllwild Arts Native American Arts Center partners

Special Recognition

Special recognition to the Native American Land Conservancy, who is a partner of the NAAC who help us to educate our community about the importance of Indigenous Land Stewardship, and to the Sherman Indian School, which partners with Idyllwild Arts to provide meaningful access for Indigenous students to participate in our educational programs.

Idyllwild Arts respectfully acknowledges the Qawishpa Cahuillangnah (also known as Cahuilla Band of Indians) and all nine sovereign Bands of Cahuilla people who have stewarded this land throughout the generations and continue to steward this land for all future generations.