City Celebrates Native Heritage with Film Festival, Pow Wow and More!
The City of Albuquerque kicked off Native American Heritage Month with a weekend full of cultural events celebrating Indigenous culture. On Friday, the inaugural Indigenous Film Festival and Fashion Show drew crowds for an evening of film premiers and a Native Fashion show held at the Kimo Theater. Events continue into today at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Native youth attended athletic workshops that taught fundamental skills in volleyball, basketball, baseball and lacrosse. The event offered cultural enrichment activities such as flint knapping/arrowhead making, land based learning through plant art, and Navajo clanship workshops. Attendees were able to shop early for the holidays at the IndigiExchange Marketplace, which featured over 50 Native businesses. The event will conclude later this evening with a gourd dance, a series of cultural performances, and a youth contest pow wow.
“The rich traditions and culture of our urban Indigenous communities and surrounding tribes are woven into the fabric of our city” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Native American Heritage Month is a pivotal time to reflect and renew our commitments to improving outcomes for our Native residents and ensuring their knowledge, perspectives and sovereignty are respected.”
The Office of Native American Affairs host various events throughout the year and collaborates with Native community organizations to promote cultural enrichment opportunities, offer resources from city government and local tribes for the urban Indigenous communities, and more. Later this month, the American Indian Chamber of Commerce (AICCNM) and the City of Albuquerque will host the 2023 Native American Economic Summit & Business Matchmaking on November 29th and 30th at the Albuquerque Convention Center. For more information, visit the AICCNM website at http://chamber.aiccnm.com.
“It is important to show our Native communities that the City of Albuquerque is committed and invested in providing events and activities that support our culture and heritage” shared Dawn Begay Office of Native American Affairs Liaison. “It is our hope that the Indigenous Life Celebration becomes one of the largest and most celebrated events in New Mexico.”