S’edav Va’aki Museum and Cultural Coalition will host the eighth annual Portal to the Past Festival from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 21, in Phoenix. The free event will highlight the water heritage and ingenuity of the Ancestral O’Odham, the Valley’s original inhabitants.
The festival will feature live music, traditional dance, artist demonstrations and children’s crafts. Activities will explore the history and importance of water in the desert, with demonstrations of traditional technologies and artwork by O’odham and Piipaash artists.
A traditional Toka tournament will take place from 9:30 a.m. to noon, featuring teams from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community, Gila River Indian Community and Tohono O’odham Nation. Played by O’odham women, Toka resembles a combination of field hockey and lacrosse. Musical performances by the Cruz Waila Band and dances by the Keli Akimel Basket Dancers are scheduled during the afternoon.
