WARNER, NH: The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum announces an entire month of lectures and presentations for the month of November to celebrate Native American Month.
The museum has planned a series of lectures for the first three weekends of November. The presentations are as follows:
November 3- Allan Madahbee will present “Flutes of Turtle Island” a presentation from 2 to 4 PM, followed by a refreshment break, and then a concert from 5 to 6PM.
Alan Madahbee of the Ojibway (Chippewa) nation, will give an interactive talk on the history of indigenous flutes from various tribes and will bring a variety of instruments for people to try. Allan has pursued the traditional music, arts, and crafts of his ancestors, created paintings, flutes, beaded moccasins, wood carvings, among others. Allan participated in the making of the short film Quinnetukut: Life In The Woods produced by the Institute of American Indian Studies in Washington Depot, CT.(Admission Costs: Members- $25 for 1 session or $40 for both sessions. Non-Members- $30 for 1 session or $45 for both sessions. Natives- Free)
November 4– Ed Bullock will present “A Practical Guide to Southwestern Jewelry” from 12 to 3p PM This will be an informational session to help distinguish differing styles and methods of Southwestern Native jewelry. Included will be examples of silversmithing techniques, stone identification, regional specialties and evaluation. Bring in your special piece for identification of origin, materials, structural integrity and possibilities of repair or re-purposing. Learn how to detect natural stones from synthetic as well as ways to distinguish Native Made jewelry from imports.
Ed Bullock, Wampanoag, has owned and operated the Little Bull, in York Beach, Maine for over 30 years.He has been selling, making and repairing silver jewelry in many capacities since 1988. A second generation trader of Native American goods he has perspective to share as well as a story or two. (Admission Costs: Members- $15. Non-Members- $20. Natives- Free)
November 10- Chief Don Stevens presents “ Tribal Sovereignty, Land Reclamation and more…”
Don Stevens, Chief of the Nulhegan Band of the Coosuk – Abenaki Nation is an award-winning leader, businessman, writer, and lecturer. He has been featured in magazines, books, TV shows, and documentaries. Don was appointed to the Vermont Commission on Native American Affairs by Governor Douglas in 2006 for two terms where he served as Chair. He helped lead the fight to obtain legal recognition for the Abenaki People in Vermont. Don was able to acquire tribal land for the Nulhegan Tribe which had been absent for over 200 years. (Admission Costs: Members- $15. Non-Members- $20. Natives- Free)
November 11- Melody Walker Brook presents “The Light Behind Our Eyes” Abenaki Perspectives on Personhood from 1 to 3 PM. Identity is the heart of the human experience. Indigenous people occupy a unique cultural space and view the world through a diff
Melody Walker Brook is an educator, activist and artist, currently an adjunct professor at Champlain College. She has done ground breaking research on Abenaki Spirituality and is heavily involved in the Abenaki cultural revitalization movement. She works with museums, lectures in both the K-12 and collegiate level classroom on topics relating to the Eastern Woodlands and indigenous history. (Admission Costs: Members- $15. Non-Members- $20. Natives- Free)
November 17– Sherry Gould presents “The Language of Baskets” from 1 to 3 PM. Sherry Gould lives in Warner, NH with her husband Bill. They were both born and raised in New Hampshire. Together, they raised their two daughters in Warner. They celebrate their Abenaki heritage and love making beautiful baskets. Sherry studied Abenaki fancy baskets in 2004 and 2007 with master artist Jeanie Brink of Barre, VT through grants from the New Hampshire Arts Council, Traditional Arts apprenticeship program. Together Sherry and Bill studied utilitarian Abenaki basket-making in 2006 under master artist Newt Washburn of Bethlehem, NH. Sherry’s basket focus is on fancy baskets. From 2009-2013 Sherry has taught four apprentices, some through an award from the NH Arts Council, Traditional Arts program. She became a juried basket maker through the League of NH Craftsmen in 20065, being the first Native American artist in the league. (Admission Costs: Members- $15. Non-Members- $20. Natives- Free)
November 18- Darlene Kascak presents “The Way of the Moccasin” from 1 to 12 PM. Darlene Kascak (Schaghticoke Tribal Nation) is the Education Coordinator at The Institute for American Indian Studies and is active in the Schaghticoke Women’s Traditional Council. She is a member of Connecticut’s Storytelling Center and serves on the board of the Connecticut League of Historical Organizations and the Hammonassett Festival planning committee. Although she has taught elsewhere, this will be her first visit to MKIM and she will present an interactive discussion on a variety of tribal moccasins, their construction, and decorations. Darlene’s style of teaching from a Native American’s point of view allows children and adults the opportunity to broaden their perspectives for a new understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ lives, both in the past and in the present. Her work brings awareness to impact that stereotypes and myths have on the perception of other cultures as well as the legacies of native contact with other groups. (Admission Costs: Members- $15. Non-Members- $20. Natives- Free)
Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum was founded in 1990 by Charles “Bud” and Nancy Thompson as an educational and cultural center to connect visitors with Native American culture, past and present, and to encourage respect for our environment. The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum seeks to challenge all of us to improve the quality of our lives and our world. The museum is open daily May 1 – October 31, Monday – Saturday 10 to 5pPM Sunday noon to 5 PM and is located at 18 Highlawn Road in Warner, New Hampshire.
Visit our Facebook or see our website for a complete listing of upcoming events: www.IndianMuseum.org. For more information, please call 603-456-2600 or email us at info@nullindianmuseum.org.