St. Bonaventure University will host Dwahšönih, a pop-up interactive learning space featuring a celebration of Indigenous arts, on Wednesday, Oct. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

The event will take place outside Devereux Hall, across from the Regina A. Quick Center for the Arts, with a rain location inside the Quick Center.

As part of a collaborative initiative with the Seneca Nation in the university’s BONA 101 courses, the event will offer hands-on demonstrations and cultural learning experiences led by Haudenosaunee educators and makers.

Featured demonstrations and experiences include:

• Beadwork, basketry, pottery, hide tanning, silversmithing, and cordage.
• Traditional foods and drinks: try sassafras tea and strawberry drink, and learn about corn and its uses. 
• Lacrosse and Snowsnake history: David Bray will share the origins and cultural significance of these Indigenous sports, along with a visual timeline and displays.

The event is free and open to the public, and select artwork will be available for purchase.

Dwahšönih provides an opportunity for the community to engage directly with Indigenous artists and educators, promoting cultural understanding and appreciation.

This event is presented through a partnership between the Quick Center for the Arts and the School of Arts and Sciences at St. Bonaventure.

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About the University: The nation’s first Franciscan university, St. Bonaventure is a community committed to transforming the lives of its students inside and outside the classroom, inspiring in them a commitment to academic excellence and lifelong civic engagement. Out of 167 regional universities in the North, St. Bonaventure was ranked #8 for value and #19 overall by U.S. News and World Report (2025).