Wa She Shu It Deh Native American Arts Festival

The Wa She Shu It’ Deh Native American Arts Festival at the Valhalla Grand Lawn July 28-29 features traditional American Indian dancers and drum performers, basket weaving displays, art, and great food. The basket weaving competition features over fourteen different categories. The Washoe are highly regarded for their master craftsmanship of baskets and have had several well-known weavers throughout their history, including Dat So La Lee.
The Washoe are the original inhabitants of Da ow aga (Lake Tahoe) and all the lands surrounding it. Washoe ancestral territory consists of a nuclear area with Lake Tahoe at its heart, and a peripheral area that was frequently shared with neighboring tribes. The Washoe re-unite on the last weekend of July at the Tallac Historic Site to honor their culture and heritage during this annual festival. Sponsored by the Washoe Tribe of Nevada and California, this event is free to attend, and open to the public.

Among favorite things to see is the basket weaving competition with more than 14 categories. The Washoe are highly regarded for their master craftsmanship of baskets and had several well known weavers like Dat So La Lee.

The Washoe basket weavers of today remain committed to keeping their traditions, arts and culture alive by continuing to create some of the most magnificent baskets in the world, according to TahoeCulture.com.

In addition to the basket weaving display and competition, there will be dancing and drumming performances, numerous native artists and performers, hand game demonstration and tournament, cultural activities, Native arts and crafts, several food vendors and raffle prizes.

This South Lake Tahoe cultural event is part of the annual Valhalla Arts, Music and Theatre Festival. The festival includes theatrical presentations, the ever popular Summer Jazz in the Park Series, local writer’s series and presentations; visual arts exhibits; an artists-in-residence, Cultural Arts Store, children’s art workshops and youth theatre camps.

Located on the shores of Lake Tahoe at the historic Tallac Site, the Valhalla Arts, Music and Theatre Festival is in its 33rd season. The Tahoe Tallac historic 74-acre setting is currently listed on the National Register of Historic Places.