Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot to Commemorate 2015 Native American Heritage Month with Indigenous Arts, Crafts, and Cultural Events

Date: October 21, 2015
Contact: Caleb Kesler, 928-567-5276 x222

National Park ServiceNews Release

For Immediate Release –October 21, 2015

Caleb Kesler, Chief Ranger, MOCA/TUZI, 928-567-5276 x222

Camp Verde, AZ –Montezuma Castle National Monument

Clarkdale, AZ –Tuzigoot National Monument

Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot to Commemorate Native American Heritage Month with Indigenous Arts, Crafts, and Cultural Events

In honor of Native peoples' contributions to American culture, Montezuma Castle and Tuzigoot National Monuments will host special events each weekend in November to commemorate National Native American Heritage Month. Native Americans have added to every area of endeavor in American life. They built North America's earliest cities, domesticated its first crops, and developed its earliest great civilizations. Countless Native people have served in our Armed Forces and have fought valiantly for our country.

The National Park Service invites the public to participate in these events throughout November:

·November 1.Yavapai-Apache Nation Celebration.The event will be held at Montezuma Castle from 11:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with beading and weaving demonstrations throughout.The Bird Dancers and Gourd Singers from the Yavapai-Apache Nation will demonstrate traditional Yavapai dancing at 11 a.m. and at 3 p.m.

·November 7-8.Norman Cuch will demonstrate Hopi Katsina carving from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Montezuma Castle on Saturday, November 7.Marvin and Leona Pooyouma will demonstrate basket and textile weaving from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Tuzigoot on Saturday, November 7 and at Montezuma Castle on Sunday, November 8.

·November 11.Montezuma Castle will host a panel discussion about Native American experiences in the military from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.All National Parks will be fee-free in honor of Veterans Day.

·November 14-15.Stanford and Sharon Lomakema will demonstrate piki bread making and discuss Hopi culture from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Tuzigoot on Saturday, November 14 and at Montezuma Castle on Sunday, November 15.Raynard Lalo will demonstrate old-style Hopi Katsina carving from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Montezuma Castle on Saturday, November 14 and at Tuzigoot on Sunday, November 15.

·November 21-22.Anthony Belvado will demonstrate the Apache fiddle from 11:00 a.m. until 3:00 p.m. at Montezuma Castle on Saturday, November 21 and at Tuzigoot on Sunday, November 22.

·November 28.Montezuma Castle will have the honor of hosting a group of Hopi youth dancers performing the Clown Dance at 2:00 p.m.Later that evening, under the light of the full moon, Ryon Polequaptewa and Thunder Boys will drum and play flutes while singing Hopi songs.

These events are sponsored by Western National Parks Association, a nonprofit education partner of the National Park Service. Visitors' tax-free purchases in WNPA bookstores help WNPA provide direct support to 67 NPS units across the American West. More information can be found at www.wnpa.org.

Regular admission fees apply, but there is no additional charge for the special program. All Federal recreation passes are accepted, including the annual, access, senior and military pass;children age 15 and under are free. Montezuma Castle National Monument is located off I-17, exit 289 at 2800 Montezuma Castle Road, Camp Verde.

Tuzigoot National Monument is located at 25 Tuzigoot Road, Clarkdale, AZ.For additional information, call 928-634-5564.

For further information, call 928-567-3322, extension zero, visit www.nps.gov/moca, www.nps.gov/tuzi or follow us at www.facebook.com/MontezumaNPS.

The National Park Service celebrates its 100th Anniversary in 2016. Over 20,000 National Park Service employees care for America's 408 national parks and monuments and create close-to-home recreational and cultural opportunities.

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