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Native American Heritage: Home

MC Library's Guide to Native American Heritage

MC Library Celebrates Native American Heritage

November is Native American Heritage Month!

MC Library celebrates the history, culture, and resilience of Native American communities in the present day and into the future. Each year, November is commemorated as Native American Heritage Month, a time for uplifting and honoring Native voices.


Montgomery College Land Acknowledgement 

Montgomery College sits on the unceded ancestral territory of the Piscataway Conoy peoples. To read Montgomery College's full land acknowledgement statement, please follow the link below:

Mr. Rico Newman, Elder and member of the Piscataway Nation, reciting a land acknowledgement statement.


Are you using appropriate terminology? 

According to the National Museum of the American Indian, "the term Native is often used officially or unofficially to describe indigenous peoples from the United States (Native Americans, Native Hawaiians, Alaska Natives), but it can also serve as a specific descriptor (Native people, Native lands, Native traditions, etc.)". To read the museum's full guide on appropriate terminology, click the link below:

 

Additional resources on appropriate terminology:

Local Native Communities and Landmarks

A map depicting important sites relevant to Native American identity and history in Maryland. Guide to Indigenous Maryland is a multi-faceted community engagement initiative of the Maryland State Library Agency and Maryland’s public libraries. Learn more at the website below. (PGCMLS)

Local Native Heritage

Performance by Piscataway Indian Nation Singers and Dancers in 2017. (Arlington Independent Media)

Newscast documenting the formal recognition of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe and the Piscataway Indian Nation by the state of Maryland in 2012. (PGCTV)

What's being called a modern day Indian Removal, The Wild Turkey Clan of the Cedarville Band of Piscataway Indians in Maryland are being forced off their land. (ACLU of Maryland)

Rico Newman shows the regalia, spiritual and hunting items used by the people of the Piscataway nation.

The Baltimore American Indian Center and Baltimore Center Stage invite you to a virtual community launch celebration for Guide to Indigenous Baltimore, to include cell phone walking tour apps, a website, and a print guide focusing on the twentieth century and the historic American Indian "Reservation" of East Baltimore. (Baltimore Center Stage)

Kluge Fellow Joseph Genetin-Pilawa presents part of his larger study of the Indigenous histories of Washington, D.C. (Library of Congress)

Library Displays

Book display at the TPSS library.

Takoma Park/Silver Spring Library

Book display at the GT library.

Germantown Library

Book display at the RV library.

Rockville Library

Events

Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations 

From a young age, most Americans learn about the Founding Fathers, but are told very little about equally important and influential Native diplomats and leaders of Indian Nations. Treaties lie at the heart of the relationship between Indian Nations and the United States, and Nation to Nation: Treaties Between the United States and American Indian Nations is the story of that relationship, including the history and legacy of US–American Indian diplomacy from the colonial period through the present.

Date: September 21st,2014 - January 17th, 2028

Time: 10am - 5:30pm 

Location:
National Museum of the American Indian | National Mall
Fourth Street & Independence Avenue,SW
Washington, DC 20560

Register: Tickets not required 


Native Cinema Showcase 2024

The National Museum of the American Indian’s Native Cinema Showcase is an annual celebration of the best in Native film. Films will be available to stream on demand from 11/22/24 to 11/29/24. 

Date: November 22nd - 29th, 2024

Time: Various Times

Location: Online

Register: Free


Baltimore American Indian Center 48th Annual Pow-Wow

The Pow-wow features Native vendors, Native food, dance specials and cash prizes.

Date: Saturday, November 16th, 2024

Time: 11 am - 7pm

Location: Maryland State Fairgrounds Exhibition Hall 
2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093

Register: Children (Under 3): Free | Children (4-12): $5 | Adults: $10


Discovery Days: Native American Heritage 

"We will be joined by indigenous artist, Tia Kescoli, from the Navajo Nation. They specialize in contemporary indigenous beadwork and are currently learning traditional Navajo weaving. They come from a line of traditional weavers. It is their pleasure to share a bit of their culture with the community."

Date: Saturday, November 9th, 2024

Time: 11:30am - 3:30pm

Location:
Gaithersburg Community Museum
9 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

StoryTime Station: Indigenous Peoples

"Enjoy a morning of books, songs, and movement! Each participant will receive a follow-up activity to complete at home. This program is free and recommended for children ages 2 to 6. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian."

Date: Tuesday, November 26th, 2024

Time: Program starts at 11am

Location:
Gaithersburg Community Museum
9 South Summit Avenue
Gaithersburg, MD 20877

Registration: Free (Call or email museum, visit Learn More link below)

About These Guides

Each year, Montgomery College's Board of Trustees designates national and state of Maryland awareness days and months for MC to celebrate. To acknowledge and celebrate diversity, MC Library creates online guides and library displays for each awareness day or month designated by the Board.

More Events and Special Topics Guides

Want to learn more? View our other events and special topics guides:

MC Library Events and Special Topics Guides