Comanche Nation Celebrates National American Indian Heritage Month During November in Washington, D.C.

The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian and the Comanche Nation presents “Numunu Voices in the Wind,” a four-day festival featuring the culture and heritage of this Plains tribe. The festival includes dance performances, singing, films about the Comanche Code Talkers, shawl-making demonstrations, traditional flute playing and a Comanche language session. Visitors will be able to meet with Comanche Nation royalty and purchase traditional items, including jewelry and art works. This free event will take place Thursday, Nov. 27, through Sunday, Nov. 30, from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Thursday and from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Friday through Sunday.

The celebration opens on Thursday with a special welcome at 1 p.m. at the Potomac Atrium, social and exhibition dancing with the Comanche Community Dancers will follow at 2 p.m. and 3 p.m. and at 2:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m., respectively. The event on Thursday will also feature mini-bow making, the Comanche Nation Veterans Association, shawl and regalia making, beadwork and a Comanche artist and flutist with demonstrations throughout the day.

On Friday, Nov. 28, in celebration of the 25th anniversary of the signing of the legislation that established the museum and celebrating Native American Heritage Day, the museum invites all to join in social dancing which will feature Comanche Nation performers. The social and exhibition dancing will happen daily at 1 and 2 p.m. Families and kids all ages will be able to join Rita Coosewoon and Jereaux Sanders with storytelling at noon in the Potomac Atrium and as an ongoing activity on the third level in the imagiNATIONS Activity Center.

A two-part film, Code Talkers, will screen in the Rasmuson Theater; part 1 at 1 p.m. and part 2 at 4 p.m. daily. Tim Nevaquaya, a Comanche flutist, will perform every day at 12:30 p.m., 1:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at the Potomac Atrium. A traditional bow and arrow demonstration with Gene Pekah will take place daily at 12:30, 2:30 and 3:30 p.m. in the Outdoor Amphitheater (weather permitting).

Visitors will also enjoy numbers of informational booths near the Rasmuson Theater and Potomac Atrium areas. During all four days of the festival, visitor will have ongoing activities happening around the museum. Highlights are:

• Bow-making demonstration with Gene Pekah
• Comanche Indian Veterans Association with Commander Jack Codopony Sr.
• Shawl-making demonstration with Beverly Hedge
• Regalia/beadworking demonstration with Clorandia Tsatoke
• Comanche artist, Tim Saupitty
• Hand games with Audrey Whitefeather
• Comanche flutist, Tim Nevaquaya

Kids can join in by making their own Comanche Bracelet at 1:30 p.m. They will also be introduced to the Tipi Building where they can make their own mini tipi at 3:30 p.m. Both events will be held at the imagiNATIONS Activity Center on the third level with assistance of Carolyn Codopony.

For more details about the festival, visit www.AmericanIndian.si.edu. Join the conversation on Twitter @SmithsonianNMAI and use the hashtag #ComancheNation.

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SI-574-2014