Montezuma Castle to Commemorate Native American Heritage Month

Date: October 18, 2016
Contact: Laura Varon-Burkhart, 928-567-3322 x 221

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.

All events will take place from 11:00a.m. to 2:00 p.m. unless otherwise noted.

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

• November 5: Yavapai-Apache Nation Celebration. The event will be held at Montezuma Castle from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m. with beading and weaving demonstrations throughout. The Bird Dancers and Gourd Singers will demonstrate traditional Yavapai dancing at 11 a.m. and the Little Warriorettes will dance at 2 p.m.
• November 5-6: Norman Cuch will demonstrate old-style katsina carving at Tuzigoot on Saturday, November 5 and at Montezuma Castle on Sunday, November 6.
• November 12-13: Davis Maho will demonstrate traditional Hopi weaving at Tuzigoot on Saturday, November 12 and at Montezuma Castle on Sunday, November 13. Iva Honyestewa will demonstrate Hopi basket at Montezuma Castle on Saturday, November 12 and at Tuzigoot on Sunday, November 13.
• November 19-20: Darlene James will demonstrate making pottery at Tuzigoot on Saturday, November 19 and at Montezuma Castle on Sunday, November 20. Jerry Whagado will demonstrate Yavapai-Apache silversmithing with Hopi symbolism at Montezuma Castle on Saturday, November 19 and at Tuzigoot on Sunday, November 20.
• November 26-27: Artist from Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community.Ron Carlos will demonstrate the rare tradition of paddle and anvil pottery, knowledge carried since the Sinagua, at Tuzigoot on Saturday, November 26 and at Montezuma Castle on Sunday, November 27.

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 71 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 programs. 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.You can also find out about this and other events by following us on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter @montezumaNPS or @tuzigootNPS.

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.