Among the stages where jazz, Cajun, blues and zydeco is spotlighted are Native American acts with singing, chanting and drumming and dancers donned in colorful feathers and fringe.
NEW ORLEANS (AP) - Among the stages where jazz, Cajun, blues and zydeco is spotlighted are Native American acts with singing, chanting and drumming and dancers donned in colorful feathers and fringe.
Louisiana Native Americans have long been represented at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, but this is the first year the focus on the culture has been expanded to include tribal nations from elsewhere in the U.S., as well as Canada and central South America.
The grounds include a makeshift "village" with a tepee, a thatched hut made of palmetto branches and an open fire with demonstrators cooking squash with wild rice and hominy with black walnuts.
The music lineup includes singer Pura Fe (PURR-uh-FAY) and flutist Robert Mirabel.
Roughly 50 nations are represented at the 2013 festival, which continues through Sunday.