The celebration, which was produced by NMAI and the Center, began on September 21 with a Native Nations Procession from the Smithsonian Castle to the new museum building. It took several hours for the 25,000 Native participants—many in traditional clothing—and non-Native supporters to walk the route. The procession marked the largest gathering of indigenous peoples and their leaders ever at one place at one time. It ended up at the Four Directions Stage, on the Mall adjacent to the museum and just west of the U.S. Capitol, for the Opening Ceremony, which included distinguished speakers such as Smithsonian Secretary Lawrence M. Small, Senator Ben Nighthorse Campbell (Northern Cheyenne), Senator Daniel K. Inouye, and His Excellency Alejandro Toledo Manrique (Quechua), President of Peru. Immediately afterwards, the museum officially opened, and the First Americans Festival began.

Performances of music, dance, and storytelling by more than 400 artists filled five stages. In addition, two pavilions featured instrument and regalia makers, who discussed their crafts at a separate Workshop Stage. Music ranged from traditional to contemporary: there were rappers and rockers, blues and gospel singers. The Dance Circle was one of the most popular venues, featuring stunningly diverse dance traditions, including those of Native Hawaiians, Tsimshian from Alaska, Quechua from Peru, and Iroquois from New York. Two evening concerts presented an impressive line-up of musicians well known in Indian Country and beyond: Buffy Sainte-Marie (Cree), Lila Downs (Mixtec), Rita Coolidge (Cherokee), Indigenous (Yankton Sioux), Star Nayea, Pappy Johns Band with Murray Porter (Iroquois), and Keith Secola (Anishinabe). The power, strength, and diversity of Native traditions—and their dynamism—were plain to see.

The First Americans Festival Marketplace displayed art and crafts from a hundred different tribes. Baskets, jewelry, clothing, beadwork, and pottery were a few of the beautiful objects offered by Native vendors, who surpassed $1 million in sales. Souvenir Festival T-shirts sold out as soon as they were put on the shelves. At the Three Sisters Café visitors had the opportunity to enjoy their favorite Indian taco but also could taste venison stew, turkey drumsticks, Peruvian roast chicken, sweet potato fries, fish chowder, and sarsparilla tea.
The September 21–26 events drew over 600,000 people and garnered exceptional national and international media coverage. Much more on the programs—including audio and video of the performances—is avail-able at NMAI's Web site, www.americanindian.si.edu.

One of the most frequently heard visitors' reactions to the events was amazement at how little they had really known about the richness of Native cultures. For Native peoples throughout the Western Hemisphere, the celebrations brought joy in the public acknowledgement of their identity, their continuing place in history, and the promise of a future they will shape. 

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