Mayborn Museum Celebrates Native American Heritage Month
Members of Indigenous ACE representing several Native American tribes perform in 2022 at Baylor University's Mayborn Museum. (Robert Rogers/Baylor University)
Contact: Molly Noah, Mayborn Museum, Baylor University
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WACO, Texas (Oct. 30 2023) – The Mayborn Museum is celebrating Native American Heritage Month in November with exciting performances and lectures from the Native American community. The series will include community conversations with the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes.
“All month long, we hope the Central Texas community will join us in celebrating the rich history and culture of storytelling within different Native American communities. We are excited to use this year’s theme – storytelling – as a jumping off point to explore issues at the heart of Native histories and contemporary experiences,” said Charlie Walter, director of the Mayborn Museum at Baylor University.
Native American Heritage Month programming includes:
Experience Indigenous ACE
Wednesday, Nov. 1, 2023, at 3 p.m.
Join us for an encore performance by Indigenous ACE (Arts, Culture and Education) from the Indigenous Cultures Institute in San Antonio that features traditional dancers, musicians and singers plus explanations of traditions. This group includes men, women and children. The organization is made up of close family and friends that represent several tribes (Saponi, Comanche, Apache, Alabama-
Coushatta, Chickasaw, Navajo and Wastec). This event is included in the price of admission to the museum. Baylor University students and Mayborn Museum members receive free admission.
We Are Waco: Reconnecting with the wí:ko:ʔ People – A Conversation with Wichita and Affiliated Tribes
Monday, Nov. 6, 2023, at 6 p.m.
The Mayborn Museum will host President Terri Parton and a delegation of leaders from the Wichita and Affiliated Tribes, who are direct descendants of the tribes indigenous to the Waco area: the Wichita, Keechi, Waco and Tawakoni people. The event is part of a community conversation on building long-term relations between the tribe and the present-day people of Waco. Attendees will learn about the tribes’ history, culture, language, ideas and hopes…and even the correct pronunciation of “Waco.” This event is free, but space is limited, and registration is required.
Storytelling with Robert Lewis
Wednesday, Nov. 15, 2023, at 3 p.m.
Enjoy this entertaining storytelling experience with Robert Lewis of the Cherokee Nation, who will share stories of his people and culture. Lewis engages audiences of all ages with witty and amusing personal stories and Cherokee tales of language and history. This lecture is in partnership with Baylor’s Institute for Oral History and the Department of History. The event is included in the price of admission to the museum. Baylor University students and Mayborn Museum members receive free admission.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY’S MAYBORN MUSEUM COMPLEX
The Mayborn Museum Complex celebrates the natural science and cultural history of Central Texas. This 143,000-square-foot building on the Baylor University campus sparkles with numerous vibrant exhibits and compelling hands-on activities for the whole family to enjoy over and over again. For more information, contact the Mayborn Museum at (254)710-1110 or visit the Mayborn Museum website.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY’S INSTITUTE FOR ORAL HISTORY
The Institute for Oral History has recorded and preserved oral histories since 1970, earning along the way a strong reputation for multidisciplinary outreach to both academic scholars and community historians by providing professional leadership, educational tools, and research opportunities.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY’S DEPARTMENT OF HISTORY
The mission of the Department of History at Baylor University is to engage students in an exploration of the breadth and depth of the human experience through the study of the past. We are equally committed to undergraduate teaching, the formation of graduate students, and the production of meaningful scholarship. Our work furthers the mission of a Christian research university by sharing compelling historical insights with audiences local, national, and global.
ABOUT BAYLOR UNIVERSITY
Baylor University is a private Christian University and a nationally ranked Research 1 institution. The University provides a vibrant campus community for more than 20,000 students by blending interdisciplinary research with an international reputation for educational excellence and a faculty commitment to teaching and scholarship. Chartered in 1845 by the Republic of Texas through the efforts of Baptist pioneers, Baylor is the oldest continually operating University in Texas. Located in Waco, Baylor welcomes students from all 50 states and more than 100 countries to study a broad range of degrees among its 12 nationally recognized academic divisions.