Celebrating Native American Heritage Month in D.C.

By Elisabeth Grant

National Museum of the American Indian

November is National Native American Heritage Month and all month long the museums of the Smithsonian Institution in D.C. are featuring exhibits, performances, talks, and special events in celebration. Most events are free and offer entertainment, education, and hands-on experiences for all ages. Read on for a selection of Native American Heritage Month events going on this month.

National Museum of the American Indian
Naturally, the majority of Native American Heritage Month special events are taking place at the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI). The NMAI has put up press release (PDF) with a complete description of what’s available and when, and the Smithsonian Education page also has a complete list. Here are some highlights:

1. Featured Event: “From Deer to Dance”
   Nov.14 and 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
   Head over to the  Potomac Atrium of the National Museum of the American Indian to see “demonstrations of deer-hide tanning and painting, bead working and moccasin making,” as well as performances by the White Oak Singers (Saturday at noon) and the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble (Sunday at noon).

Other National Museum of the American Indian Events:

1. Chamber opera: “El Conejo y el Coyote/The Rabbit and the Coyote”
   Nov. 6 (10:15 a.m. and 12 p.m.), Nov. 7 and 8, (2 p.m.), Rasmuson Theater
   

 

2. Short Documentaries: “Answering the Call: Veterans Day Short Film Contest”
   Wednesday, November 11, Rasmuson Theater, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m.

 

3. Forum: “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas”
   Friday, Nov. 13, Rasmuson Theater, 3 p.m.

 

4. Behind the Scenes: Meet the curators from the “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas” event, discuss and explain this project
   Saturday, Nov. 14, 10:30 a.m., Room 4018

 

5. Drama, dance, and drumming: “The Drum is the Thunder, The Flute is the Wind”
   Saturday, Nov. 14, at 2 and 7:30 p.m., Rasmuson Theater
   Tickets: www.residentassociates.org or (202) 633-3030.

 

6. Saturday Morning Cartoons: Cartoons “Wapos Bay” and “Raven Tales”
   Nov. 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10 a.m., Mitsitam Café

Main floor of the National Museum of the American Indian

For more information on these and other events see this press release (PDF) from the NMAI and the Smithsonian Education page.

Events are also taking place at these other museums:

National Portrait Gallery

1. Exhibition: Faces of the Frontier: Photographic Portraits from the American West, 1845 – 1924. Sept.  25, 2009 through Jan. 24, 2010. Second Floor, National Portrait Gallery

National Postal Museum

1. Stories and Activities: Based on Sequoyah: The Cherokee Man Who Gave His People Writing. Sequoyah appeared on a stamp in 1980. Saturday, Nov. 14, 2009, 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Atrium, Lower Level, Postal Museum

National Museum of Natural History

1. Native Pride Dancers: American Indian Dance, Drum, and Song
   Tuesday, Nov. 10, 10:15 a.m. and 11:30 a.m.  Baird Auditorium, National Museum of Natural History. Tickets: Children, $5 (children under two, free.); adults, $6.  Call 202.633.8700.