Did you know that November is nationally recognized as Native American Heritage Month? Like all other heritage and pride months throughout the year, it offers a time to celebrate Native American culture. Los Angeles has such a depth of history relating to native Californian people. Most of the local museums have special exhibitions and permanent galleries dedicated to Native American art, history and items of cultural significance. Here are a few upcoming local events to help commemorate Native American Heritage Month:
Voices of Resistance
Chumash Indian Museum
November 12
The Chumash Indian Museum in Thousand Oaks will be hosting this special film screening, discussion panel and book signing. Know We Are Here is a book written by Rose Ramirez and Weshoyot Alvitra. It offers a unique look at the ways that California’s Native nations are resisting modern colonialism efforts, including education reform and environmental injustice affecting tribal lands. The authors will be on hand to discuss the book and provide autographs. Then, the panel will be followed by a special screening of Saging the World, which is a short documentary highlighting the ecological and cultural issues related to the overharvesting of sacred white sage. Learn more.
CSUN UCS Native American Heritage Month Pottery Workshop
La Casa (American Indian Student Association)
November 17
Dine artist Tlalli Toltecayotl will be displaying her pottery and offering a free pottery workshop, hosted by Cal State Northridge. She will discuss how pottery making played an important role in her mental health and then help students engage in an introduction to making traditional Native American clay pottery, along with guided imagery. Learn more.
Reclaiming El Camino: Native Resistance in the Missions and Beyond
The Autry Museum of the American West
Opening December 9
If you really want to explore the unique history of Southern California, a visit to the Autry Museum is well worth your time. There are many exhibitions focused on Native American history in the Western United States. Reclaiming El Camino will be featured in the Norman F. Sprague Jr. Gallery. It will be an interactive and educational experience, exploring the volatility of Native American life and the strong history of tribal activism in the greater California region. The exhibition shows how the El Camino Real trade route was established long before Spanish missionaries. Learn more.
American Art Collection
The Huntington
Ongoing
The Huntington library, art gallery and gardens offer one of the best collections of American art and literature in the world. They have many works highlighting the art, history and culture of Native American nations. There is never a bad time to visit The Huntington. November is a great opportunity to spend a little extra time seeing their incredible Native American art collection. Learn more.
