St. Bonaventure University will get a double dose of Native American culture this month at Reilly Center Arena.

On Tuesday, Sept. 17, Marty Jimerson Jr. and the Indigenous Spirit Dancers will be performing from 6:30-8:30 p.m. On Thursday, Sept. 19, Onondaga Nation storyteller Perry Ground will perform from 6-8 p.m.

The events, both free to attend, are made possible as part of a $147,000 National Endowment for the Humanities grant St. Bonaventure received in 2023 to bolster the university’s relationship with the Seneca Nation of Indians. The grant is directed by Dr. Oleg Bychkov, professor of Theology and Franciscan Studies.

The Indigenous Spirit Dancers is a dance group with members from various nations throughout the Haudenosaunee Confederacy who are dedicated to educational performances of the Indigenous Peoples, showcasing songs, dances and storytelling.

A member of the Seneca Nation, Jimerson started doing dance programs about 10 years ago with just a small group of dancers.

“When I was younger. I’d go to the fairs and watch the dance shows and always wanted to do that,” Jimerson said. “I began seeing how to lead a dance show. I grew up attending the Newtown Longhouse and grew up with the singing.”

Ground is a Turtle Clan member of the Onondagas and has been telling stories for more than 25 years as a way of educating people about the culture, beliefs and history of the Haudenosaunee (sometimes known as Iroquois) Confederacy.

Ground shares his stories in a very energetic, fun and engaging style and makes the audience part of the story experience.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure University is a community committed to transforming the lives of our students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a lifelong commitment to service and citizenship. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #6 for value and #14 for innovation by U.S. News and World Report (2024).