Blackfeet Nation Tribal Festival
Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.
Visitors can learn about the Blackfeet Nation and the many aspects unique to Blackfeet culture through this two-day festival. The Blackfeet Reservation, located in northwestern Montana along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, is home to one of the 10 largest tribes in the United States, with more than 17,000 enrolled members. Throughout the festival weekend, Blackfeet artists, performers, historians and culture bearers will share demonstrations and performances. Highlights will include seasonally appropriate dances and stories, and demonstrations of making traditional regalia from the hides of buffalo, deer, elk and antelope. During the celebration, visitors can see traditional and contemporary artistic creations, including beadwork, handcrafted jewelry, quillwork, pottery, horsehair work, moccasins, carvings and baskets.
Blackfeet Nation Tribal Festival
Saturday, Nov. 16, and Sunday, Nov. 17; 10 a.m.–5 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.
Visitors can learn about the Blackfeet Nation and the many aspects unique to Blackfeet culture through this two-day festival. The Blackfeet Reservation, located in northwestern Montana along the eastern slopes of the Rocky Mountains, is home to one of the 10 largest tribes in the United States, with more than 17,000 enrolled members. Throughout the festival weekend, Blackfeet artists, performers, historians and culture bearers will share demonstrations and performances. Highlights will include seasonally appropriate dances and stories, and demonstrations of making traditional regalia from the hides of buffalo, deer, elk and antelope. During the celebration, visitors can see traditional and contemporary artistic creations, including beadwork, handcrafted jewelry, quillwork, pottery, horsehair work, moccasins, carvings and baskets.
Pocahontas: Her Place in the Emerging Atlantic World and Nascent United States
Tuesday, Nov. 19; 2 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Rasmuson Theater, Washington, D.C.
Pocahontas lived and died not only in the maelstrom of the English–Powhatan encounter in the early 17th century, but at a singular moment in world history. She participated in the newly emerging Atlantic world. Her legacy helped shape Europeans’ conception of that world and the United States’ conception of itself for centuries. Why and how so? This presentation by National Museum of the American Indian Curator Cécile R. Ganteaume explores what is known about Pocahontas and her early impact on European and American thought.
Native American Heritage Day: Family Fun Day
Friday, Nov. 29; 10 a.m.–4 p.m.
National Museum of the American Indian, Washington, D.C.
The museum’s unique family celebration of Native American Heritage Day showcases Native culture through interactive dancing, games, storytelling, hands-on activities and make-and-takes, as well as music and dance presentations. The program features the Dineh Tah Navajo Dancers throughout the day. Join the museum in recognizing the many contributions of Native Americans to all aspects of life in the United States.
On Tuesday, December 3, 2019 at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Hall of Union Station, a consortium of partners, including the Royal Norwegian Embassy, the Norwegian-American Chamber of Commerce—Mid-Atlantic Chapter, Washington Performing Arts, Union Station, and exclusive media partner WHUR 96.3 FM, will present the annual Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting to the people of Washington, D.C. This beloved holiday event, which attracted 5,000 guests in 2018, is presented free to the public and will feature performances by The String Queens, whose members have collaborated with artists such as Ledisi, Janelle Monáe, and Common, and the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir.
In one of Washington’s most popular holiday traditions, which began in 1997, Norway will present a Christmas tree to the people of Washington, D.C., in recognition of the strong friendship between Norway and the United States, and in gratitude for America’s assistance during and after World War II. The theme for this year’s tree is the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. These goals address the challenges we face as a global community and the 2030 target for achieving them. Specially designed ornaments and signage will represent the goals.
Complete Schedule of Events
Norwegian Christmas Tree Lighting (6:00 p.m.)
Featuring The String Queens, the Washington Performing Arts Children of the Gospel Choir, and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus. The 30-foot tree is decorated with 20,000 lights and ornaments representing all 17 of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. Norway’s ambassador to the United States, Kåre R. Aas, will light the tree with a special guest, Member of the Norwegian Parliament Linda Helleland.
Free, registration encouraged | Family-friendly
Location: Union Station, 50 Massachusetts Ave NE, Washington, DC 20002
The Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center (RRB/ITC) is hosting the 8th Annual Embassy Showcase, Winternational, from 11 AM – 3 PM, Thursday, December 5, 2019. Presented by World Trade Center Washington, DC (WTCDC), over 50 embassies will be participating in this year’s event.
Last year, more than 4,000 guests attended this lively midday celebration of international culture, travel, tourism and trade. This year, there will be many opportunities for 1:1 interviews with diplomats, embassy exhibitors, sponsors and attendees. The free festival features a bustling global marketplace with more than 50 embassies promoting their countries through vibrant and interactive displays of visual art, food, handcrafts as well as travel and tourism.
The RRB/ITC is a preeminent forum in the heart of the nation’s capital advancing international commerce and cross-cultural dialogue. As a seamless, unifying framework, it provides a platform for building connections, fostering diplomacy, growing businesses, and creating a more prosperous U.S. and global economy. WTCDC oversees the trade mission of the RRB/ITC, exclusively managed by TCMA (A Drew Company). The event is free and open to the public.
WHAT: Winternational – 8Th Annual Embassy Showcase
WHO: WTCDC and the following Embassies:
Afghanistan, African Union, Armenia, Australia, Bahamas, Bahrain, Bangladesh, Barbados, Belgium, Bolivia, Botswana, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cabo Verde, Cameroon, Cote d’lvoire, Czech Republic, Egypt, El Salvador, Eritrea, European Union, Fiji, Gabon, Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Guinea, Guyana, Haiti, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malaysia, Malawi, Malta, Mexico, Moldova, Morocco, Myanmar, Nepal, Nicaragua, Nigeria, Oman, Paraguay, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Sri Lanka, St. Kitts & Nevis, Tajikistan, Turkey, Uganda, Ukraine, Uzbekistan, Vietnam.
WHEN: Thursday, December 5, 2019 11:00am – 3:00pm ET
WHERE: Atrium and Atrium Hall
Ronald Reagan Building and International Trade Center
1300 Pennsylvania Ave., NW, DC
HOW: Free & Open to the Public. Ticket registration requested here.
Winter Blast: A Family Day of Native Games
Saturday, Jan. 25, 10:30 a.m.–5 p.m.
This free family-friendly event celebrates Indigenous games from the Arctic to Argentina. Visitors can meet Talibah Begay (Navajo) as she shares a traditional Navajo shoe guessing game. Leihua Stewart (Native Hawaiian) teaches traditional Hawaiian games. Participants can learn to play Bolivian games with Julia Garcia (Aymara). The day features hands-on activities and “make-and-takes.”
Multimedia play: Hear Me Say My Name
Saturdays: Feb. 15, 22, and 29, 11:30 a.m. and 1 p.m.
Rasmuson Theater
“I am not your mascot, and I don’t live in a tipi. See me for who I am, hear me say my name.” How do stereotypes of American Indians, prejudice, and identity shape the discussion of what it means to be a young person in our country today? This original multimedia play, created in collaboration with Smithsonian Associates Discovery Theater, tackles America’s assumptions about American Indians and starts a conversation with audiences reclaiming rich history, challenges, hopes, and dreams. After the play, the audience is invited to explore the museum’s Americans exhibition to learn more.
This program is generously supported by the Rasmuson Foundation. Free; first-come, first-served seating. No registration is required.
Opening and Screening
Thursday, Feb. 20
The annual Mother Tongue Film Festival, presented by the Smithsonian’s Recovering Voices program, celebrates the United Nations’ International Mother Language Day by showcasing recently produced feature and short-length films about the cultural richness of Indigenous and endangered languages. Recovering Voices, a collaboration of the National Museum of Natural History, the National Museum of the American Indian and the Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, partners with communities around the world to revitalize and sustain endangered languages and knowledge. Full schedule will be available https://mothertongue.si.edu/
