Next ‘America250 Conversation’ continues planning for ‘Turtle Island’ festival
NORWICH — The Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) and the Chenango County Historian’s Office are proud to be collaborating on this summer’s “Turtle Island” festival, part of the local commemorations of America250, a national initiative centered around the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States. These two organizations, along with collaborators Colorscape Chenango Arts Festival and the Chenango County Agricultural Society, invite all interested community members to assist in the planning and coordination of this dynamic community event.
This community dialogue — the seventh in a multi-year series — will take place 6–7:30 p.m. on May 12 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus, located at 20 Conkey Ave. The goals for this conversation are to continue planning activities and to confirm collaborative partnerships among interested organizations to produce a memorable festival. “Turtle Island” welcomes the participation of libraries, arts organizations, historical societies, and other community organizations in this historic community event.
Featuring “America’s Potluck” and an outdoor performance spectacle, which brings the Haudenosaunee Creation Story to life, the festival is scheduled to take place from 4 to 8 p.m. on July 5 at the Chenango County Fairgrounds. Directed and guided by Indigenous artist and historian G. Peter Jemison and created in collaboration with French company Plasticiens Volants, the “Turtle Island” experience features a giant inflatable puppet, the Sky Woman Iroquois Dance Theater, and traditional Indigenous music to depict the birth of the world on a turtle’s back.
“Thanks to amazing local collaborations, plans for this year’s ‘Turtle Island’ Festival are coming together,” said Jessica Moquin, CCHS executive director. “Anyone interested in helping to organize this milestone event is encouraged to join us. A primary goal for both the ‘America250 Conversation’ series and the festival is to create a sense of connection across our communities.”
First established in 1939, CCHS is the area’s premier heritage museum dedicated to celebrating local culture — its unique traditions and noteworthy stories. CCHS programs are made possible by the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of the Office of the Governor and the New York State Legislature. CCHS is also a proud partner of Bloomberg Connects, an app that allows visitors to enhance their exhibit experience through audio clips, videos, and more. Download this free digital museum guide via the Apple Store or Google Play, and visit www.ChenangoHistorical.org for more details about this and other museum programs.
“America’s Potluck” is an opportunity for neighbors to join one another to share a communal meal, creating a sense of connection and belonging and fostering interactions among people from all walks of life. “Turtle Island,” a vibrant fusion of aerial puppetry, dance, and storytelling, is produced by Unicycle Productions LLC & Plasticiens Volants. Visit www.unicycleproductionsllc.com/turtle-island to learn more.
###
Caption: The public is invited to join an “America250 Conversation” being hosted by the Chenango County Historical Society and the Chenango County Historian’s Office from 6–7:30 p.m. on May 12 at the SUNY Morrisville Norwich Campus. This community dialogue continues the planning process for this summer’s “Turtle Island” festival, part of the local commemorations of America250. (Photo credit Alex Hammer.)
About CCHS: The mission of the Chenango County Historical Society (CCHS) is to explore the culture of Chenango County through preservation and presentation of our loca
