— In partnership with the North American Indigenous Center of New York, the Museum will entertain and educate youth on Monday, October 9 —
Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) will honor Indigenous Peoples’ Day this year with a day of storytelling, live music, theater performances, interactive food demonstrations, and art-making on Monday, October 9. The all-day event will be held in partnership with the North American Indigenous Center of New York (NAIC-NY).
From 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., visitors can enjoy a variety of interactive events to honor the day, from art-making and live performances to food demonstrations. All parts of the programming are aimed at educating youth about Indigenous Peoples’ history, culture and customs, as well as providing a space for Native American artists to share their work.
“Brooklyn Children’s Museum observes and celebrates this day because Indigenous people hold up our world in many ways, through resilience, activism, and sacred environmental stewardship. It is crucial that we educate our future generation about their deeply rooted history and customs,” said Dylan House, Director of Public Programs at BCM. “On Indigenous Peoples’ Day, and every day, we honor the lives, cultures, and contributions of Indigenous Peoples to the world from the past, today, and into the future.”
Guests can meet traditional Native American artists and vendors, plus explore jewelry-making and craft a dream weaving at the Artisan Marketplace on the rooftop. The Marketplace will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and again from 2 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a Dreamcatcher Activity at 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 3 p.m., and a Beadwork Activity from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Interdisciplinary artist and award-winning Broadway playwright and performer Ty Defoe will excite and inspire audiences with Future Weaving. This interactive program will take place on the rooftop stage from 11:15 a.m. to 11:45 a.m., and again from 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. Future Weaving explores both Anishinaabe and Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) knowledge, creating experiences by interweaving traditional teachings, sound, and movement.
The Northeastern Haudenosaunee Dance Troupe will share traditional Haudenosaunee stories that have been told for hundreds of years on the rooftop stage from 10:30 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., and again at 3:15 p.m. to 4 p.m. These stories teach about the beliefs, customs, and history of the Haudenosaunee people.
Also on the rooftop stage will be the Cirque du Soleil Hoop Dance performed by Feryn Karahkwiiohhstha King. Known to be a spiritual dance of medicine, hoop dance can be performed at events celebrations, weddings, and funeral burials. With two slots at 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. and 4 p.m. to 5 p.m., there will be different 15-minute performances, plus 30-minute interactive workshops.
In the Museum’s ColorLab Art Studio, kids can create a pinch pot or coil pot using terracotta clay with BCM Teaching Artists. Terra Cotta Pottery will be open from 10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., and again at 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.
Additionally, Chef Dave Smoke-McCluskey will offer a strawberry (ken’niiohontésha) teaching in the café performance space from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. and 2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. This workshop will explore strawberries in Haudenosaunee Culture, and throughout the North East of Turtle Island, as well as teach how to make traditional strawberry drinks.
Honoring Indigenous Peoples’ Day tickets are $15 general admission, $14 for grandparents, and free for children under one year old. General admission tickets include access to all special performances, festivals, and exhibits. To purchase tickets, visit: www.brooklynkids.org/programs/indigenous-peoples-day
About The North American Indigenous Center of New York
The North American Indigenous Center of New York (NAIC-NY) is a Native-women-led and centered nonprofit organization committed to Indigenous empowerment through cultural continuance, intersectional equity, and advancement of economic justice for Native nations, communities, and peoples living in and beyond the boundaries of New York City, New York State, and the Northeast.
About Brooklyn Children’s Museum
Inspired by the energy and diversity of our borough, Brooklyn Children’s Museum creates experiences that ignite curiosity, celebrate identity and cultivate joyful learning. Founded in 1899 as the world’s first children’s museum, Brooklyn Children’s Museum (BCM) is New York City’s largest cultural institution designed especially for families. Proudly based in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, BCM serves 300,000 children and caregivers annually with exhibits and programs grounded in visual arts, music and performance, natural science, and world cultures. For more information, visit: https://www.brooklynkids.org
