American Indian and Alaskan Native Heritage Celebrated with All-Day American Indian Festival

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Contact: Juanita Neconie, Indian Health Service, 301-443-6586
Karen Rawlins, City of Rockville, 301-309-3166
Betty Valdés, Montgomery County Public Libraries, 240-777-0017

For Immediate Release: November 1, 2000

American Indian and Alaskan native heritage
Celebrated with all-day American Indian Festival

Native crafts, food, and musical entertainment will mark the County's celebration of American Indian Heritage Month at the Third Annual American Indian Festival on November 18, from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., at the Executive Office Building Cafeteria, 101 Monroe Street, Rockville. The free program, which is open to the public, will also feature a discussion of Traditional Healing and Finding Your American Indian Roots and a video film festival.

County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Council President Michael Subin will present proclamations honoring the American Indian and Alaska Native celebration in the County. Rockville Mayor Rose Krasnow and Department of Public Library Director Harriet Henderson will offer welcoming remarks.

Highlights of the celebration include a Mini-POW-WOW with drummers, dancers and exhibition dancing, featuring Miss Indian World 2000 as "Head Lady Dancer." Dancers representing the Crow, Sioux, Caddo, Pawnee, Kiowa, Seneca, Chippewa, Cherokee, Mandan-Hidatsa, Navajo, Wichita, and other tribes will perform in their distinctive "Traditional Regalia Styles."

Tastes of American Indian Food such as Pawnee Corn Soup and Fry Bread, Lakota Wojape, Iroquois Corn Soup and Scones, and Indian Tacos will be available.

Vendors and exhibitors will be available to demonstrate their skills in beadwork, silver work, ribbon work, shawl making, pottery, and quilt making. The Navajo Code Talkers, America's secret weapon used during World War II, will be on display during the event.

An exhibit of black-and-white and sepia photography by American Indian artist Stephen Gambaro, bronze work by sculptor Retha Gambaro, and an exhibit of silver work jewelry courtesy of Rain Dance Gallery will be on display at the Executive Office Building Art Galllery during November.

Residents may view additional displays and exhibits celebrating American Indian culture during November at the following county public libraries: Aspen Hill, Chevy Chase, Fairland, Gaithersburg, Germantown, Olney, Rockville, Silver Spring and Twinbrook.

The American Indian Festival is co-sponsored by the American Indian and Alaska Native Heritage Committee of the Indian Health Service, the Offices of the Montgomery County Executive, the City of Rockville, the Montgomery County Department of Public Libraries and the American Indian Society of Washington, D.C.

For additional information, contact Juanita Neconie at 301-443-6586.

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