Monday, Oct. 14 is Indigenous Peoples’ Day and the Milwaukee Public Museum has big plans.

The museum invites visitors to enjoy cultural performances by two local Indigenous drum and dance groups, attend a Q&A session with Tribal members and learn about Museum exhibits and collections items that explore traditions tied to Native Americans as well as Indigenous communities from Latin America. 

"Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebrates America’s first inhabitants and the Tribal Nations that are still here today thriving,” said James Flores, MPM Manager of Tribal Relations.

"The holiday is an opportunity to reflect on the creativity, diversity of cultures, resiliency, sovereignty and contributions of Indigenous people both in the US and around the world. MPM stands in solidarity with Indigenous people by providing programming that recognizes the importance of Tribal Nations within Wisconsin and beyond." 

Performances from the Ho-Chunk drum group Little Priest will take place at 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. and will feature drumming and singing while dancers dressed in regalia demonstrate different dance styles seen at powwows today. 

Kelly Logan, the drum keeper for Little Priest, will also discuss the dance categories and take questions from visitors as well as schools joining virtually from 10:15 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. 

Performances from Milwaukee-based dance troupe México Indígena will take place at noon and 2 p.m. and will include dancers adorned in vibrant feather headdresses as they step to drum rhythms native to the Aztec, an Indigenous civilization from central Mexico. 

“Drum and dance are important aspects of Indigenous history and heritage that remain integral to Indigenous peoples’ cultures and self-expression today,” said MPM President & CEO Dr. Ellen Censky.

“The Museum is grateful and excited to be able to collaborate with community members for an Indigenous Peoples’ Day celebration that showcases the beauty and significance of those continued traditions.” 

In addition to the performances, MPM’s Research Curator of Cultural Sciences, Dr. Aaron Atencio, and Curator of Anthropology Collections, Dawn Scher Thomae, will be on the Second Floor from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. to chat with visitors about the Museum’s Native American exhibits and related anthropology initiatives.

MPM’s educators will also engage visitors in hands-on learning opportunities that explore Indigenous peoples across North and South America through MPM’s artifacts and specimens. 

All performances and programming are included with general admission. More information on the event can be found at mpm.edu/indigenous-peoples-day.