Embark on a year-long series of lectures, workshops and performances at the Glendale Public Library showcasing the rich culture, heritage and historical impact of Indigenous Americans in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. From November 2024 to July 2025, we'll explore the arts, music, traditions and contemporary issues of the Southwest’s Native Peoples. These powerful programs are a unique opportunity to connect with and appreciate the depth of Indigenous culture.
This project is supported by the Arizona State Library, Archives & Public Records, a division of the Secretary of State, with federal funds from the Institute of Museum and Library Services.
Indigenous Americans of the Southwest: Programs in January & February
Prehistoric Pottery of the Southwest
Wednesday, January 8, 2-3 p.m.
Heroes Regional Park Library
Join the S'edav Va'aki Museum and learn more about the prehistoric people of the Southwest and the beautiful pottery they created! With a focus on the Ancestral Sonoran Desert People (formerly known as the Hohokam), learn how pottery was made and the different styles and designs that were used. This engaging presentation and instructor-led pottery craft is geared for children in 2nd-6th grade. Space is limited. Registration is required.
Register for Prehistoric Pottery of the Southwest
Indigenous Signs and Symbols: Pee-Posh/Kwatsan
Monday, January 27, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Foothills Library
Native Americans in the U.S. are diverse, and their contributions have enriched our lives in countless ways. Learn about the origins of Native contributions to the language, culture, and traditions of the U.S. as represented in petroglyphs, attire and much more. Explore the traditions and history of Pee-Posh/Kwatsan, including signs and symbols passed down for generations, and the meaning of tattoos and markings for this tribe. This program is presented by Yolanda Hart Stevens and produced in partnership with Arizona Humanities.
Armed with Our Language, We Went to War: The Navajo Code Talkers
Saturday, February 8, 2-3 p.m.
Velma Teague Library
During WWII a select group of young Navajo men enlisted in the Marines with a unique weapon. Using the Navajo language, they devised a secret code that the enemy never deciphered. The Code Talkers’ cultural background, how the code was devised and used, photos, and how Navajo spiritual beliefs were used to treat post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) will be featured. This program is presented by Laura Tohe, the current Navajo Nation Poet laureate and Professor Emerita with Distinction from Arizona State University, and produced in partnership with Arizona Humanities.
Register for Armed with Our Language, We Went to War: The Navajo Code Talkers
Growing in the Desert: The History & Culture of the Tohono O’odham
Thursday, February 27, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Foothills Library
Modern-day Arizonans call the Sonoran Desert and its striking landscapes home. But long before our city lights lit up the dark desert skies, the Tohono O’odham were cultivating and shaping the land with abundant agriculture. Learn how for generations they passed down their knowledge, culture, and rich history grown from their connection to the desert. This program is presented by Dr. Jacelle Ramon-Sauberan and produced in partnership with Arizona Humanities.