Native American Heritage Month Celebrated Locally

By Misty Cryer

It is not uncommon to see businesses, private and public entities, nonprofits, and community members in Carlsbad partner to enhance experiences. For Native American Heritage Month, Southeast New Mexico College (SENMC), the Carlsbad Public Library, and the Carlsbad Museum are joining Tony and Violet Duncan to bring dance, music, and storytelling to the community in celebration of Native American culture, heritage, and traditions on November 12.

The beaded keychain class, also dedicated to recognizing Native American Heritage, will be held at the Carlsbad Museum on November 14 at 10 a.m.

For the November 12 event, Edward VanScotter, Director of the Carlsbad Museum, said it will feature two award-winning Native American dancers. “They have toured nationally and internationally.”

About Tony Duncan, VanScotter said, “He’s a five-time world champion hoop dancer and Native American Music Award Artist of the Year.”

The other dancer is Violet Duncan. “She is also a Native American children’s book author. We plan to have a signing with her, too,” he said.

“We’re excited to celebrate the authors and their heritage and their culture,” said Sarah Jones, Library Director of the Carlsbad Public Library. She said they love community partnerships and working with the community, especially when it presents a chance to bring diverse culture to Carlsbad and represents the beautiful state of New Mexico.

The event is scheduled for 6 p.m. at Halagueno Arts Park, which surrounds the museum and library. If they need to change the location, VanScotter said they and their community partners will do their best to get the word out.

The class for beaded keychains will be taught by Stephanie Kurimski, said VanScotter. “It is open to anyone, and it’s free,” he said.

Because spots are limited, VanScotter said interested people should sign up by calling or stopping by the museum.

Two different projects will be offered in the class, Kurimski said, with one for older kids and another for younger kids.

For the older kids, she explained that a new way to use seed beads will use a simple wrap stitching to create a wristlet, “It has a very elevated look, but it has a simple way of attaching the beads to a paracord.”

For the younger kids, Kurimski said, the technique is a ‘90s way where shapes and characters can be created. “It will use pony beads, which are a little bit larger and easier for younger kids to work with,” she said.

The two different styles of beads are connected to Kurimski’s heritage, which she said she learned about when she was in her 20s and has done research about. “That’s why I’m passionate about teaching kids with these beads,” she said.

“I am actually Metis,” said Kurimski. She explained that means “mixed” in French. “We are known as an indigenous group in Canada.”

Seed beads were used by the Metis to decorate their garments, said Kurminski. She said, “The Metis were directly connected to the children’s schools, where they would teach the native out of these children.” Her grandmother attended one of those schools, she said, adding that she died from exposure.

“I have also embraced my heritage, and now I obviously feel empowered by it. My self-identity is there, and I’m excited to share it with these children—about the native beading and the beautification of what they would wear and how they would like to present themselves,” said Kurimski.

While not Native American, VanScotter said the traveling exhibit, José Guadalupe Posada: Legendary Printmaker of Mexico, will be open in the museum through the end of December.

“He was a commercial artist,” said VanScotter, noting that he was famous for producing many prints, including prints for newspapers that resemble what is now referred to as political cartoons.

He died in 1913. “He died kind of destitute and not very well known,” VanScotter said, “but later on, Jean Charlot and Diego Rivera championed him. He’s still a very big artist in Mexico even today.”