Celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month, November 2006

Date: October 25, 2006
Contact: Hallie Larsen, [phone] ext. 274

Celebrate National American Indian Heritage Month, November 2006

Petrified Forest, AZ — Petrified ForestNational Park celebrates its 100th Anniversary during 2006. On June 8, 1906, the Act for the Preservation of American Antiquities (better known as the Antiquities Act) was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt. This law gives presidents the authority to proclaim and reserve "historic landmarks, historic and prehistoric structures, and other objects of historic or scientific interest" on lands owned or controlled by the United States as national monuments. Petrified Forest was one of the first places set aside as a national monument through the use of this Act.

Petrified ForestNational Park is pleased to promote awareness of and appreciation for the history and culture of American Indians during National American Indian Heritage Month. This month is dedicated to recognizing the intertribal cultures, the events and lifeways, the designs and achievements of American Indians and Alaska Natives.

Activities at Petrified Forest include the following.

Cultural demonstrators will be featured each Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm Mountain Standard Time at the Painted Desert Inn Museum as a special opportunity to observe traditional skills in practice today (more will be scheduled):

• November 11: Dee Setalla, traditional Hopi pottery making and firing
• November 25: Otto Lucio, Zuni silversmith and jewelry-making

Take a tour of Puerco Pueblo and Petroglyphs, a site on the National Register of Historic Places. Meet at the trailhead for Puerco Pueblo:

• Nov. 1, 11:00am
• Nov. 10, 11:00am
• Nov. 16, 11:00am

Take a tour of the Painted Desert Inn Museum and look for the architectural details that reflect the American Indian Heritage of the region, including murals by Hopi artist Fred Kaboti. Meet at Painted Desert Inn Museum every day at 1:00pm Mountain Standard Time.

Make a souvenir!Petrified ForestNational Park is home to a high concentration of petroglyphs. Create your own petroglyphs to take home. This activity is open to all ages!Meet at the Painted DesertVisitorCenter:

• Nov. 1, 2:00pm
• Nov. 10, 2:00pm
• Nov. 16, 2:00pm
• Nov. 25, 1:00pm and 3:00pm

For more information call [phone] weekdays, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Mountain Standard Time; or write to the Superintendent, Petrified Forest National Park, P.O. Box 2217, Petrified Forest, AZ 86028; or e-mail the park.