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 February & March
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.
Indigenous Americans of the Southwest: Murals are Medicine, presented by Lucinda “La Morena” Hinojos
Saturday, March 8, 2-3 p.m.
Main Library
Embark on an extraordinary journey with Lucinda Hinojos, known as La Morena, a visionary artist whose story weaves together resilience, creativity, and cultural empowerment. From her roots in Phoenix, AZ, she has risen to become an internationally acclaimed muralist and visual artist, breaking barriers and transforming lives through her powerful "artivism." Her impact resonated globally in 2019 when her Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) campaign touched over 50,000 lives, spreading awareness across borders. The international art community embraced her vision in 2022 when the U.S. Embassy invited her to create a profound cultural statement through a mural in Marseille, France. Making history in January 2024, she blazed new trails as the first Chicana and Native American female to become the Super Bowl LVII Marquee Artist – an unprecedented milestone in NFL history. Proudly embracing her Xicana heritage with roots tracing back to Apache, Pima, and Yaqui descent, Lucinda's journey exemplifies the transformative power of art and identity. Through her groundbreaking work, she continues to be a beacon of hope for marginalized communities, proving how art serves as a catalyst for change and inspiring others to embrace their heritage and pursue their dreams unapologetically.
Songs of the Spirit: A Traditional Flute Experience
Monday, March 10, 5-6 p.m.
Heroes Regional Park Library
Discover the traditional American flute through the eyes of Native artist and musician Palmer Lomakema. Experience the enchanting sounds of this traditional instrument and deepen your cultural understanding. Palmer Lomakema was born for the Sun Clan of the Hopi Nation, where he was raised in the village of Shungopavi. At the age of 20, he was one of the youngest to be initiated into the men’s society known as Wuwu Chim or Elders Knowledge; he was accompanied by his uncles. He is also a member of the Grey Flute Society. His very traditional family are well-known singers and song makers — his father is one of the Chiefs in the flute society, his godfather is Chief of the Antelope Society, and his grandfather is a highly respected medicine man. Palmer currently resides in Phoenix, AZ, where he continues teaching his family the traditions of his people.
Navajo Blue Corn Mush: A Cultural Tradition Evolving Through Time
Thursday, March 13, 6:30-8 p.m.
Foothills Library
Embark on a culinary journey through time, exploring the rich history and cultural significance of Navajo blue corn. Learn how this ancient grain is transformed into a nourishing and flavorful meal, called blue corn mush, and used in modern Navajo recipes, incorporating new flavors and techniques while preserving its cultural heritage. Uncover the secrets of juniper ash, a unique ingredient that adds depth and complexity to the dish. Tasty food samples will be provided! Presented by Alana Yazzie, creator of
The Fancy Navajo, a lifestyle and food blog and cookbook. This program is produced in partnership with Arizona Humanities.
Read the Book, Meet the Author!
Swim Home to the Vanished by Brendan Shay Basham is being discussed across the Glendale Public Library system this month, in preparation for the author's upcoming visit.
"After the death of his brother, a grief-stricken young man seeks refuge and oblivion in a secluded fishing village dominated by a family of brujas in this haunting debut novel, inspired, in part, by the ramifications of Diné history and thought—a mesmerizing, original tale in the tradition of works by Toni Morrison, Haruki Murakami, and Gabriel García Márquez." - author's website
Pick up a copy of
Swim Home to the Vanished at any Glendale Public Library beginning
February 1, while supplies last. Copies of the book are limited, so be sure to get yours early!
- Heroes Book Club
Monday, March 3, 6-7 p.m.
Heroes Regional Park Library
Register for Heroes Book Club
- Gentle Reads Book Discussion Group
Wednesday, March 5, 10-11:30 a.m.
Foothills Library
Attend in person or virtually. Register to obtain virtual login information.
Register for Gentle Reads Book Discussion Group
- A Novel Approach Book Discussion Group
Monday, March 10, 6:30-7:45 p.m.
Foothills Library
- 58th Avenue Book Group
Tuesday, March 18, 10:15-11:30 a.m.
Velma Teague Library
Attend in person or virtually. Email [email protected] to obtain virtual login information.
- Book Discussion at Main
Thursday, March 20, 2-4 p.m.
Main Library
Brendan Shay Basham: Author Appearance
Saturday, March 29, 2-4 p.m.
Foothills Library
Indigenous author Brendan Shay Basham will discuss his book
Swim Home to the Vanished, offering insights into the challenges, rewards, and unique perspective of writing from his cultural heritage. Come meet him and ask questions! Copies of the book will be available for purchase and signing at this event.
Brendan Shay Basham (Diné) is Tó tsohnii and Bit’ahnii, born for bilagáana (Irish, English, Scottish, German). A writer, artist, educator, and former chef, Brendan was born in Alaska and raised in northern Arizona. He received his MFA from the Institute of American Indian Arts. His debut novel,
Swim Home to the Vanished, was released by HarperCollins in 2023. He is currently on fiction faculty with the MFA in Creative Writing Program at UNR-Lake Tahoe. His prose and poetry have appeared in
Prairie Schooner,
Puerto del Sol,
Poetry Northwest,
Santa Fe Literary Review,
Red Ink,
Yellow Medicine Review,
Juked, and
Sheepshead Review. He is a recipient of Poetry Northwest’s inaugural James Welch Prize for Indigenous Writers, the Ucross Foundation’s first Native American Literary Award, a Rupert Costo Chair in American Indian Affairs Medal, and fellowships from Vermont Studio Center, Virginia Center for Creative Arts, Writing by Writers, Tin House, and the Truman Capote Trust. He lives in the Zuni Mountains in western New Mexico.