A Quartet of Autry National Center Events
The Autry National Center in Los Angeles has become a major player in the global Native arts realm since its acquisition of the city’s oldest museum, the Southwest Museum, along with its massive collection of American Indian cultural materials. An ambitious annual schedule of special events, including four major programs in November, also has helped cement the Autry’s place among the top echelon of American Indian cultural institutions.

left: Photo by Ventura Imagery/courtesy Autry National Center.

First up is the 16th annual Intertribal Marketplace, Nov. 3–4, at the Autry National Center in Griffith Park. It kicks off with a members’ preview reception on Nov. 2 from 6:30 to 8 p.m., which includes dinner, live music and the opportunity to purchase works from the more than 100 participating artists, including many from northern and southern California. The market resumes on Saturday and Sunday, with live music, dances (powwow and hoop), storytelling and Native fare. $12 admission for nonmembers.

The weekend of Nov. 17–18 offers up two more fabulous events. The Southwest Museum (on Mt. Washington) will host the Oaxacan Folk Art & Zapotec Textiles Show each day from noon to 5 p.m. Trader Jerry Boyd will present a great array of handmade Zapotec weavings, from throw rugs to room-size works. Details: 323/221-2164

Back at the Autry, be sure to bring an appetite to Native Harvests, on Nov. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m. This culinary celebration and educational event will explore the historic origins, present-day preparation and rituals associated with traditional Native American foods. Guests will get to sample a wide range of foods and listen to talks on this fascinating subject by Beverly Cox, food editor of Native Peoples magazine, and Dr. Rebecca Hernandez (Mescalero Apache) of the UCLA American Indian Studies Department. Tickets are $40 ($30 for members). Reservations are required; call 323/667-2000, ext. 250.

Also scheduled for November is the presentation of four original dramatic works in the museum’s terrific Native Voices at the Autry program, held at the wonderful Wells Fargo Theater. These are staged readings (with all the drama but no full sets or costumes). First up is Salvage by Diane Glancy (Cherokee) on Friday, Nov. 16, from 8 to 10 p.m. Then catch Teaching Disco Square Dancing to Our Elders: A Class Presentation by Larissa FastHorse (Sicangu Nation) on Nov. 17, 2 to 3:30 p.m.; Native Skin by Bret Jones (Muskogee Creek) on Nov. 17, 8 to 10 p.m.; and The Further Adventures of SUPER INDIAN by Arigon Starr (Kickapoo/Creek) on Nov. 18, 2 to 3:30 p.m. Admission to all three readings is free, but reservations are highly recommended; call 323/667-2000, ext. 354. 

For further details on these events, call 323/667-2000 or visit autrynationalcenter.org.

elsewhere
Head down to sunny Florida for the 10th annual American Indian Arts Celebration, Nov. 9–11, Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, Big Cypress Seminole Reservation, which includes display and sale of traditional Seminole arts such as patchwork clothing, works from artists across the country, as well as dance and music. Also enjoy the museum’s living village, indoor exhibitions and films, the nature walk and gift shop. Admission is $6 adults. 863/902-1113 or ahtahthiki.com

Enjoy musician Arigon Starr, Nov. 8–10, Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, OK, in her amazing one-woman performance of her original drama, The Red Road. gilcrease.org or arigonstarr.com

Plan on attending Native Art Weekend, Nov. 9–11, Peabody Essex Museum, Salem, MA, which will include silver-jewelry workshops led by master artisans Steve Wikviya LaRance (Hopi) and Marian Denipah (Navajo/Tewa); live dance performances (such as award-winning hoop dancer Nakotah LaRance); and a film festival featuring works like Weaving Worlds (Bennie Klain), War Code: Navajo (Lena Carr), Family Dancing (Rick Stevenson) and Four Sheets to the Wind (Sterlin Harjo). 866/745-1876 or pem.org

Visit the 18th annual Navajo Rug Show & Sale, Nov. 9–11, Snow Park Lodge, Deer Valley Resort, Park City, UT, a benefit for the admirable Adopt-a-Native Elder program. The event kicks off on Nov. 9 at 6 p.m. with hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, discounted rug sales and a live auction at 8 p.m. Tickets are $30. Activities resume at 10 a.m. on Saturday with weaving demonstrations, sales and entertainment. A Navajo Code Talker, George Willie, will speak on Sunday at 10 a.m., and at 3 p.m. the Henry James Dance Troupe will perform a two-hour powwow. Weekend admission $5. 435/649-0535 or anelder.org
Follow the tour of musician Arvel Bird, who performs with his band One Nation on Nov. 16 at the Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, GA; and Nov. 30–Dec. 2 with John Lone Eagle at the Atlanta Indian Art Market. arvelbird.com, boothmuseum.org

Motor over to the Winter Moon Native Art Market, Nov. 16–18, Mashantucket Pequot Museum, near Mystic, CT, which will include works by dozens of artists. Admission to the market is free. With admission to the museum ($15 for adults), you can also catch a concert each day at 1 p.m. by the talented Robert Mirabal (Taos Pueblo), who will perform works from his newest CD, In the Blood, as well as past favorites. 800/411-9671 or pequotmuseum.org

Catch the performance of Hapa on Nov. 17 at 8 p.m., at the Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts in Scottsdale, AZ. Arguably Native Hawaii’s leading musical group, they incorporate many elements, from ancient Polynesian chants and slack-key guitar to Portuguese ballads and folk rock. Tickets $38. 480/994-2787 (box office) or scottsdaleperformingarts.org

Turn out for the second annual Tribal Jam, Nov. 17, 7 p.m. to midnight, at the Yakama Nation Cultural Heritage Center Theatre, Toppenish, WA, produced by Leon Thompson (Yakama/Nez Perce). Artists will include guitar whiz Derek Miller, Eagle & Hawk, Martha Redbone, Buddy Big Mountain and Randy Woods. Tickets are $35 and $25. 509/865-3900 or e-mail neonleon05@hotmail.com

One Nov. 20, tune in to The Creek Runs Red, on PBS’s Independent Lens program, a documentary co-produced and directed by Julianna Brannum (Comanche) about the town of Picher, Oklahoma, declared a Superfund site in 1981.

Don’t miss the Winter Showcase, Nov. 23–25, Scottish Rite Center, Santa Fe, NM, sponsored by SWAIA, the same group that organizes the annual Santa Fe Indian Market. More than 100 artists are expected. A reception on Nov. 23 from 5 to 8 p.m. (admission $75) will include appetizers, beverages and a chance to beat the crowds to the goods. Admission on Saturday and Sunday is $5. 505/983-5220 or swaia.org
Mush north to the 14th annual Canadian Aboriginal Festival, Nov.
 30–Dec. 2, Rogers Centre, Toronto, Ontario for Canada’s largest Indian gathering, including a powwow, art market, fashion show, performing arts and workshops. The ninth annual Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards will be held on the evening of Nov. 30. General admission is $10 for adults; admission to the music awards is $35. Tickets via Ticketmaster. 519/751-0040 or canab.com

Spend the day at Winter Market, Eiteljorg Museum, Indianapolis, Dec. 1, where some 30 regional Native and non-Native artists will gather to sell their work, including gourd art, baskets, glasswork, leatherwork, beadwork, pottery, furniture and fine arts. Also enjoy live music. Free with museum admission. 317/636-9378 or eiteljorg.org

Bring your wallet to the National Museum of the American Indian’s Holiday Art Markets, Dec. 8–9, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, D.C. and in New York City, with some 36 artists from North, Central and South America. nmai.si.edu

Attend some of the Pueblo dances held annually at almost all of the northern New Mexico pueblos from Christmas Eve through the first week of January. Details on specific dances are available in local newspapers and magazines; through the Indian Pueblo Cultural Center at 505/843-7270; or through the individual pueblos. See also Pueblos of the Rio Grande: A Visitor’s Guide (Rio Nuevo Publishers).

Move it on over to Thunder in the Desert, Dec. 28–Jan. 6, 2008, Rillito Raceway Park, Tucson, AZ. Held every four years, this event includes a major powwow (Dec. 30-Jan. 1), arts and craft sales, information booths, traditional foods, children activities and other events organized by Fred Synder and Carol Garcia. 520/622-4900 or usaindianinfo.org