Native American Heritage Month Celebration

The Native American Heritage Month Celebration at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument highlights the remarkable endurance of Indigenous communities who have persisted through centuries of colonial occupation. The event amplifies modern Native voices on their ancestral homelands, honoring the Indigenous and Puebloan peoples who have called and continue to call this place home.  

By featuring Native artists, storytellers, and culture-bearers, the celebration offers opportunities to learn and experience living traditions through engaging programs and conversations. The Native American Heritage Month Celebration at Salinas Pueblo Missions amplifies Indigenous strength, honors history, and celebrates cultural resilience and creativity. 

Join us for a two-day celebration featuring Indigenous artists whose diverse creative practices are grounded in meaningful community connections. For the two-day celebration, you will learn how indigenous foodways carry stories, memories, and resilience. How storytelling is woven into culture keeping traditions alive, passing down values, and building community. And how contemporary glass art draws inspiration from Native traditions. 

Salinas Pueblo Missions would like to thank the Friends of Salinas Pueblo Missions (FSPM) and the Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC), for the financial support and continued partnership in making this event happen.  

Event Schedule: 

Saturday, November 14, 2026 

11:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Presentation by Andi Murphy   

Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC) 

Address:

101 Broadway Ste 534

Mountainair, NM 87036

Andi Murphy (Diné) is the creator, host, and producer of the Toasted Sister Podcast, a show about Indigenous food. She is also the senior producer of Native America Calling, a one-hour national radio program focused on Indigenous issues and topics. Each month, she produces and hosts The Menu, a food-focused segment for the program.  

She has long partnered on activities such as zine workshops, stamp-making, and discussions about food culture. Her presentation will offer an engaging exploration of Indigenous Foodways.  

1:30 PM -2:15 PM – Cultural Dance Program by Oak Canyon Dancers (Pueblo of Jemez)  

Location: Quarai Unit- Church 

Address:

122 Manzano Quarai Road

Mountainair, NM 87036

Founded by Julian Fragua, the Oak Canyon Dance Group is a family-based cultural dance group dedicated to sharing the songs, dances, and traditions of Jemez Pueblo. For 18 years, the group has traveled throughout the Southwest and neighboring states, sharing stories, cultural traditions, and generations of knowledge through each performance. Join us at the Quarai Unit for a special cultural dance demonstration and this unique opportunity to experience and celebrate living Pueblo traditions. 

4:00 PM – 5:00 PM: Storytelling with Anthony Ryan Edaakie   

Location: Manzano Mountain Art Council (MMAC) 

Address:

101 Broadway Ste 534

Mountainair, NM 87036

Anthony Ryan Edaakie, former Ancestral Lands Conservation Corps intern at Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, and author of The Land of Everlasting Winter, returns for another powerful storytelling hour.  

Known for blending Zuni tradition with imaginative narratives, Anthony’s stories connect listeners to cultural memory, heritage, and resilience. Anthony will present this book in person, discuss his interpretation of the work, and share insights into its creation. Suitable for both children and adults, this book offers an engaging reading experience complemented by beautiful illustrations!