November marks National Native American Heritage Month, and the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian is hosting a monthlong series of activities celebrating Native culture.
On Friday and Saturday, Nov. 1–2, members of the Muscogee (Creek) Nation from Oklahoma will share their history and culture through storytelling, singing, painting demonstrations, and more for all ages.
On Veterans Day, Nov. 11, the museum will honor Indigenous servicemembers with a day of special events, including a discussion on healing veterans and a presentation of colors and wreath-laying ceremony.
On Nov. 29, the day after Thanksgiving, the museum will recognize early 20th-century Native activist Zitkala-Sa of the Yankton Dakota Sioux, who played a key role in passing the Indian Citizenship Act of 1924. Recently, the U.S. Mint released a quarter honoring her as part of the American Women’s Quarters program.
For those interested in local tribes, the museum has a permanent exhibit, “Return to a Native Place: Algonquian Peoples of the Chesapeake,” which offers insight into the history and culture of Native communities in the Chesapeake Bay region.
In addition to exhibits and events, Haberacker suggested that visitors explore the outdoor spaces surrounding the museum.