TENAFLY, N.J.—The Northern Valley Earth Fair (NVEF) is proud to announce this year’s event will feature a performance by the world-renowned Thunderbird American Indian Dancers.
Founded in 1963 by descendants of the Mohawk, Hopi, Winnebago, and San Blas tribes, the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers are the oldest Native American dance company in the New York area. The company’s founding members were all “first generation” (meaning that their parents had been born on reservations), and they formed the troupe in order to preserve the traditions, songs and dances they had learned from their parents. Within a few years, the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers were traveling throughout the U.S., expanding and sharing their repertoire.
A number of Thunderbird members are winners of the highly competitive Fancy Dance contests held on reservations. Over the years, the company has taught Native American Indian culture, dances, songs passing down information that would have otherwise been lost.
NVEF is a free educational event that’s all about being “green.” The annual event hosts a wide variety of educators and exhibitors demonstrating ways to protect and preserve our environment.
“Among the native people in the story of creation, in most tribes we were told that we were the guardians of the earth and that it is our responsibility to take care of our environment and Mother Earth who provides for us,” says Thunderbird company director Louis Mofsie. “We do a lot of observances of Earth Day because we’re always trying to get that message across.”
NVEF was created back in 2012, when the Environmental Commissions of Norwood, Cresskill, and Old Tappan realized that instead of holding their own separate Earth Day Celebrations, they could join forces to present a single event. Since then, the non-profit NVEF has become a much-loved Northern Valley institution, a multi-town event run by volunteers from Closter, Cresskill, Demarest, Harrington Park, Haworth, Norwood, Old Tappan, and Tenafly.
“We’re very pleased to be presenting the Thunderbird American Indian Dancers this year, particularly because of the increasing threats to the environment we’re seeing every day,” says Tenafly Green Team Chair Carole Hodges. “We can learn so much from the traditions and values of indigenous Americans, so their presence at the Earth Fair is really a gift to the Northern Valley community.”
This year’s NVEF includes educators and exhibits from Columbia University’s Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory and the Tenafly Nature Center as well as an assortment of vendors demonstrating ways to live more sustainably. Additional live music performers include kora master Salieu Suso, steel drum artist Nate Paul, and Andean flute player Richie Olivera.
The Northern Valley Earth Fair offers activities for all ages, and offerings designed specifically for kids include a petting zoo and butterfly demonstrations. And of course, there’s everybody’s favorite Plastic Bag Monster, reminding us all to reduce, reuse and recycle.
“I always enjoy seeing lots of families and children because I think that the kids remember the event, and then they influence their parents,” says NVEF trustee Susan Rowley. “And if we can instill in these kids an appreciation for the environment and its issues, then these engaged kids will take over someday in terms of bettering the world and our environment.”
The 2019 Northern Valley Earth Fair takes place April 27, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Tenafly Middle School, 10 Sunset Lane in Tenafly. The Thunderbird American Indian Dancers perform at 12:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.nvearthfair.org.