Contact: Juanita Neconie, Indian Health Service, 301-443-6586
Tina Clarke, County Executive’s Office, 240-777-2523
Karen Rawlins, City of Rockville, 301-309-3166
Betty Valdes, Public Libraries, 240-777-0017
For Immediate Release: October 26, 2001

American Indian and Alaska 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 fourth annual American Indian Festival on Saturday, November 17, 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.

Immediately following the Grand Opening Parade and Presentation of Colors, County Executive Douglas M. Duncan and Council President Blair Ewing will present a joint proclamation honoring the American Indian and Alaska Native heritage in the County. Rockville Mayor Rose Krasnow and Department of Public Libraries 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 2001 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 will be available, including Pawnee Corn Soup and Fry Bread, Lakota Wojape, Iroquois Corn Soup and Scones and Indian Tacos.

Vendors and exhibitors will be available to demonstrate their skills in beadwork, silver work, ribbon work, shawl making, pottery and quilt making.

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

Residents may view additional displays and exhibits celebrating American Indian culture during November at Rockville City Hall and the following county public libraries: Aspen Hill, Chevy Chase, Davis, Fairland, Quince Orchard, Rockville 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.