Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration via hildalsolis.org
Native American Heritage Day is a time dedicated to acknowledging Native and Indigenous peoples’ history, past, and present in the United States and celebrating the culture and heritage of native communities.
This year, the observation takes place on Friday, November 24, 2023.! We’ve listed incredible ways below that you can honor and celebrate all month long — and beyond in L.A.
Antelope Valley Indian Museum SHP ©2012, California State Parks Photo by Brian Baer
Found in the northeastern area of Los Angeles County, the Antelope Valley Indian Museum houses objects created by the Native American cultures of the western Great Basin, California, and the Southwest. Admission is $3 for adults (cash or credit cards only). Kids age 12 and under are free. More details here!
Tribal Member Sam Villa Photo Collage and TongvaPeople.com website
The best way to celebrate and honor the past, present, and future of indigenous and native people is to educate ourselves on their history, and the history of their land we live on. As stated on the TongvaPeople.com site, Gabrielino-Tongva villages were located in the Los Angeles Basin for thousands of years. These villages were located near and around the ever-changing Los Angeles River, San Gabriel River, Santa Ana River, and the coastal areas. To learn more, please visit TongvaPeople.org and GabrielinoTribe.org
Image courtesy of The Getty
Found at the Museum’s Entrance Hall at the Getty Center, Los Angeles-based artist Mercedes Dorame has installed five vast sculptures in the shape of abalone shells with gorgeous painted views of the horizon and coastline. This pretty installation is on view through August 11, 2024. Named Woshaa’axre Yaang’aro (Looking Back), asks viewers to position themselves in relation to the land they inhabit and adjust their perspective that prioritizes the original caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles Basin and Southern Channel Islands). To learn more about this installation, you can visit The Getty here!
Tlahtoltapazolli is a collective based in Los Angeles that is dedicated to teaching the pretty Nahuatl language. Their incredible efforts are aimed at promoting and educating folks on this language that holds immense cultural significance. Join them in supporting their mission by learning more about the Nahuatl language. Learn more here!
Project 562
From SciFi to memoirs, you can celebrate Native American heritage through the stories and voices of Native American and Indigenous authors. The list was put together by Penguin Random House, and you can check it out here.
100+ Years of Education and Resilience Exhibition
The 100+ Years of Education and Resilience exhibition shines a airy on history that many may not know about. According to The Autry “By the late nineteenth century, the federal government’s efforts to fully assimilate Native Americans had proved unsuccessful. Growing concerns over the welfare of Native communities led to the establishment of twenty-five federal off-reservation boarding schools for Native American children, where students could be formally educated and “civilized” through a strict program of academics, vocational training, and Christian teachings, far away from their families and tribal communities.”
Join the 100+ Years of Education and Resilience exhibition to explore the history of these Native American boarding schools — with a focus on the enduring legacy of Sherman Indian School. You’ll be exposed to the stories of strength and resilience even in the face of assimilation efforts.
