National Museum of the American Indian' July Schedule

Native News Network Staff in Entertainment. Discussion »

Conversations with the Earth

WASHINGTON - The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian announces the following schedule for the month of July:

IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.

This 20-panel banner exhibition that uncovers and explores the history, culture and contemporary reality of people who share African American and Native American ancestry. A collaborative effort between the museum, the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the Smithsonian Institution Traveling Exhibition Services (SITES), the exhibition will complement "RACE: Are We So Different?," a traveling exhibition currently at the National Museum of Natural History. Free.

July 14-16 & July 19-20. "Satellite Broadcast: On the Inka Road."

Rasmuson Theater, 12:30-2:30 pm. The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian has partnered with a multinational research team of engineers and archaeologist to study the ancient construction of South America's Inka Road. The museum invites members of the public to join a series of satellite discussions with members of the team currently working in Cusco and the Ancash Region of Peru. The series will include five broadcasts, two of which will be available via webcast at www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/webcasts. Free.

Wednesday, July 20. Moccasins and Microphones,

7 - 8:30 pm, Rasmuson Theater. The Santa Fe Indian School Spoken Word Team presents "Native Storytelling through Performance Poetry," which incorporates elements of traditional song and dance to tell the story of two Native American youths (Joe and Anita) from their births, through their education at an Indian boarding school, to their early adult lives as Natives in today's world. Free.

Friday, July 22-Sunday, July 24. Indian Summer Showcase: Living Earth Festival.

Various museum locations. Presented in tandem with the opening of the exhibition Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change, this two-day festival celebrates indigenous contributions to environmental sustainability, knowledge and activism. An outdoor farmer-s market will feature produce, buffalo and traditional American Indian dishes from tribally owned food cooperatives and farms, and visitors can enjoy a live Iron Chef-style cook-off between local and Native chefs in the museum's outdoor fire pit. Hands-on family activities will include creating your own pottery and cornhusk dolls, and basket-weaving demonstrations. The festival will also include a live outdoor concert with the Pappy Johns Band, Plateros and Greg Analla. Free.

July 22 - January 2, 2012. Conversations with the Earth: Indigenous Voices on Climate Change.

Sealaska Gallery. Through stunning photography, video and audio recordings, this exhibition - created in collaboration with 15 indigenous communities in 13 countries - offers a Native perspective on global climate change from the Arctic Circle to the Andes Mountains. The communities represented in the exhibition include the Kichwa of Ecuador, the Aymara and Quechua of Peru, the Yaaqui and Comcaac of Mexico, the Guarani of Brazil, the Gwich'in of Alaska, the Inuit of Canada and the Kuna of Panama. Free.

National Museum of the American Indian, Fourth Street and Independence Avenue SW. 202-633-1000. www.nmai.si.edu »

posted July 6, 2011 6:30 am edt