- February 6, 2025
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Uwohila Kaili 'Kawena o'Kalani Kamana 'o Poepoe dances with local children Ever Fumich, Aubrey Swilling, Sarah Stevens and Chloe Bennett. Photo by Paige Wilson
Heremana impresses the crowd with a fire dance. Photo by Paige Wilson
Juanita Zermeno walks past Harry Little Bird the fourth, who is sitting in a stroller watching the performers. Photo by Paige Wilson
An American flag can be seen through the top of a teepee set up at the festival. Photo by Paige Wilson
Roseanne and Luis Salinas of the Aztec Nation perform a traditional dance. Photo by Paige Wilson
Thomas Zermano of the Lipan Apache Tribe. Photo by Paige Wilson
Uwohila Kaili 'Kawena o'Kalani Kamana 'o Poepoe performs a Hawaiian dance. Photo by Paige Wilson
Ormond Beach resident John Banda shows off his Native American pride. Photo by Paige Wilson
Roseanne and Luis Salinas of the Aztec Nation get ready to perform at the festival. Photo by Paige Wilson
Native American tribes and nations representing much of the United States and Mexico showed their cultures to the people of Ormond Beach and Volusia County during the 29th-annual Native American Festival at the Casements over the weekend of Jan 20-21.
Among the performers were Luis and Roseanne Salinas of the Aztec Nation in Mexico. The pair demonstrated traditional dances and explained their respect for all of nature's gifts to the crowd.
"Just giving the message to the little ones: Don't forget your roots," Luis Salinas said.
Veronica Johnson, a Casements special events technician, remembers exploring the Native American Festival when she was 5 years old.
Now, at age 27, Johnson watched all the little kids wandering around Rockefeller Gardens in awe of the different vendors' crafts and special trinkets — just like she did.
"It's great when kids come to this and learn about new cultures," she said.
