Native Americans have long celebrated their religious beliefs and customs with music, song, and dance. Drums and flutes traditionally carry the beat and melody while singers chant and dancers perform their finest moves.

There are dances offering thanks for the gifts of life and sustenance, acknowledging that every living thing is an integral part of Mother Earth, and that all life should be respected. There are dances to pray for spiritual and physical healing and to remember ancestors who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their way of life. There are dances to celebrate the passage from childhood to adulthood and the changing of the seasons. And dances are performed to celebrate the traditional arts and crafts of the Native people and how these skills originated.

The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum in Warner hosts many Native American cultural events during the year. On Sunday, May 7, at 1 PM, the museum will host Founders’ Day, to celebrate the contributions Bud and Nancy Thompson made in creating the museum. Special guests will be the Dineh Tah’ Navajo Dance Troupe, who will perform traditional Navajo dances.

The public is invited to this event to learn more about the Native American way of life. Reservations must be made prior to April 28 by emailing: deputydirector@nullindianmuseum.org or by calling 603 456-2600. More information on this and other events may be found on the museum’s website: indianmuseum.org/events.