Strawberry Moon Festival

The Institute for American Indian Studies 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT, United States

When wild strawberries ripen, they represent life and good health. They also herald the ripening of fresh fruits and the arrival of summer. Visitors of all ages will enjoy music and traditional Native American stories while learning about the importance of giving thanks for the bounty of the Earth. Sample complimentary strawberry recipes made from […]

Connecticut Trails Day Heritage Walk

The Institute for American Indian Studies 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT, United States

As part of Connecticut Trails Day weekend, Dr Lucianne Lavin, Director of Research and Collections at IAIS, will lead a walk along the museum's trails, ending at our replicated Algonkian village. Get a glimpse into the history and culture of local tribal peoples, learn about their medicinal plants, and hear of their community life and […]

Connecticut Open House Day

The Institute for American Indian Studies 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT, United States

  The Institute for American Indian Studies is participating in CT Open House Day! Come to the museum to learn about archaeology, Native cultures past and present, and to get a free tour from one of our docents. Our trained educators are comfortable with visitors of all ages and can modify their tours to fit […]

Strawberry Moon Festival

When wild strawberries ripen, they represent life and good health. They also herald the ripening of fresh fruits and the arrival of summer. Visitors of all ages will enjoy music and traditional Native American stories while learning about the importance of giving thanks for the bounty of the Earth. Sample complimentary strawberry recipes made from […]

Summer Solstice Walk

The Institute for American Indian Studies 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT, United States

  Join IAIS staff as we take a walk along our museum’s trails and discuss the significance of the summer solstice in various cultures, ending in our replicated Algonkian village Watch the shadows lengthen and listen to the evening sounds as we sit around a fire and enjoy refreshing strawberry treats.  Price: Non-members $5; IAIS […]

Bark Basket Workshop with Jennifer Lee

During traditional times in the Eastern Woodlands, bark served many purposes: it could be used to cover a wigwam, tie tools together, and float a canoe. It could even be used to make beautiful, practical baskets out of. In modern time, Native American artists and culture bearers help to keep such traditions alive. Join Jennifer […]

Artifact Identification Day

Join the conversation as Director of Research & Collections, Lucianne Lavin, Ph.D. identifies and provides interesting commentary about your local stone objects and Northeastern Native American cultural items. While we can't appraise or speculate about the value of an object, we can certainly talk about the who, what, when, where, and how of your mystery […]

Nature Nuts: Woodland Ecology Day

The Institute for American Indian Studies 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT, United States

The forests and rivers of the Eastern Woodlands are teeming with life! The Native inhabitants recognized long ago that all living things are connected. In this session, children will play games, complete activities and bring home a craft as they learn about our four-legged friends (animals), winged friends (birds), and the finned ones (fish), as […]

Digging Detectives: Archaeology Day

The Institute for American Indian Studies 38 Curtis Road, Washington, CT, United States

How do people today figure out what life was like a long time ago? Until someone invents a time machine, we have to carefully look for clues that people in the past left behind. These clues are all around us, if you know where to look. Children who attend this session will dig into the […]

Moccasin Workshop

Traditional Native American clothing varied widely from tribe to tribe, but one nearly universal element was the moccasin. The word moccasin comes from the Algonquian word meaning shoe or footwear. This sturdy slipper-shaped type of shoe was sewn from tanned animal hides. Join Darlene Kascak, Schaghticoke, for a fun and informative workshop making your very […]