American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month

November is American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Month. The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian will host a variety of free programs throughout the month including lectures, theatrical performances, art demonstrations, films and more. Here is the schedule of events for 2009 at the museum on the National Mall in Washington, DC:

November 6, 10:15 a.m. and noon and November 7-8, 2 p.m. The museum presents a chamber opera, “El Conejo y el Coyote/The Rabbit and the Coyote” Friday, in the Rasmuson Theater. This one-act opera is based on Zapotec stories and is sung in an imaginary language and narrated in English. Reservations are required for Friday’s performance; call (202) 633-3030. No tickets are required for Saturday or Sunday; seats are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis. The Sunday performance at 2 p.m. will be presented in Spanish.

November 11, 1 p.m. in the Rasmuson Theater, Paul C. Rosier, professor of history at Villanova University and author, discusses his book, “Serving Their Country: American Indian Politics and Patriotism in the Twentieth Century” (Harvard Press, 2009). The program includes a discussion moderated by museum historian, Mark Hirsch, and is followed by a book signing. November 11, 11:30 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. View the winning entries from the museum’s “Answering the Call: Veterans Day Short Film Contest” Wednesday, in the Rasmuson Theater, featuring short documentaries about Native veterans.

November 13, 3 p.m. in the Rasmuson Theater, the museum will present “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas,” a stimulating and insightful forum moderated by Kevin Gover (Pawnee), director of the museum. This event focuses on bringing visibility to African-Native American lives and initiating a healing dialogue on experiences for people of all backgrounds. Speakers include Lonnie G. Bunch III, director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture, along with curators and authors Robert Keith Collins (African/Choctaw descent), Penny Gamble-Williams (Chappaquiddick Wampanoag), Angela Gonzales (Hopi), Judy Kertész and Tiya Miles.

November 14-15, 10 a.m.-3 p.m. “From Deer to Dance” is a weekend of music, dance and hands-on craft activities that will be held in the Potomac Atrium. Families will see demonstrations of deer-hide tanning and painting, bead working and moccasin making, as well as drumming and dance performances by the White Oak Singers and the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble.

November 14, 10:30 a.m. Join the “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas” exhibition curators Saturday, in Room 4018, on the fourth level, for a fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the curators’ work on this project and a lively, informative discussion of the challenges and rewards inherent in the richly complex subject the exhibition presents.

November 14, 2 and 7:30 p.m. Join the Kevin Locke Native Dance Ensemble for “The Drum is the Thunder, The Flute is the Wind,” a dramatic performance of traditional and contemporary Native dance accompanied by an eight-member group that includes drumming, vocals and flute in the Rasmuson Theater. Tickets are available at www.residentassociates.org or (202) 633-3030.

November 21, 2 p.m. there will be a book reading in the Resource Center featuring Stephanie Duckworth-Elliott (Wampanoag) reading from her book “Poneasequa: Goddess of the Waters,” about a young Wampanoag girl who unexpectedly learns about her culture and herself. Recommended for ages 9–12. A book signing follows.

November 27-29, 10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. The program “Foodways of the Americas” will take place Friday through Sunday, in various museum locations. This program is presented in honor of Native American Heritage Day, Nov. 27, to show the rich contributions of foods of the Americas to the world—from chilies to chocolate. There will be food demonstrations; Mayan, Pueblo, Tlingit and Seminole dancers; and several hands-on activities for families. Presented in collaboration with the Smithsonian Latino Center and the museum’s Mitsitam Cafe.

November 7, 14, 21 and 28, 10 a.m. “Saturday Morning Cartoons” in the Mitsitam Cafe,featuring family-friendly cartoons from the award-winning “Wapos Bay” and “Raven Tales” series. Hands-on activities that complement the animated shows, including beading and star-quilt patterns, will be presented in the Potomac Atrium from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m. Breakfast specials are offered from 10 to 11 a.m.

All programs are subject to change. For a complete schedule of public programs, visit the official website.