For thousands of years, many Native peoples decorated clothing and items with materials found in nature, such as shell, stones, seeds and porcupine quills. In more recent centuries, multi-colored glass beads have become a favorite alternative. Join IAIS Education Department staff for a small group, beading workshop appropriate for a variety of age levels and […]
The Institute for American Indian Studies is participating in Connecticut Open House Day! Come to our museum to learn about the more than 10,000-year history of Connecticut’s Native American inhabitants. Museum educators and docents will be stationed throughout the museum and in our Outdoor Replicated Algonkian village, along with self-guided educational activities. Stop by to […]
When wild strawberries ripen, they represent life and good health. They also herald the ripening of fresh fruits and the arrival of summer. Participate in family-friendly, small group education activities related to the gifts of this fruit, which holds significance to many Native American communities. Listen to traditional Native American stories with Education Director Darlene […]
Did you know that lacrosse is a traditional Native American game? It is most often credited to the Nations of the Iroquois, or Haudenosaunee, Confederacy, where it continues to be known as the “Creator’s Game” or “Medicine Game.” For nearly six decades, Alfie Jacques, of the Onondaga Turtle Clan, has continued the tradition of crafting […]
Not all artifacts during an archaeological excavation are easy to spot in the screen. As a matter of fact, some of the most telling and important artifacts can be very difficult to separate from the soil. With a process called flotation, archaeologists run soil samples through water in order to preserve very small details, such […]
Looking to expand your reading list and discuss a variety of issues and topics important to Native people? Please join our digital book club, As They Speak: Native Voices in Today’s Literature. Based on a variety of topics and featuring a range of genres, all of the books we will be reading have been written […]
In person, outdoor event -Saturday, July 10, 1:00 to 4:00pm Looking for a workshop that will rock your world? Flintknapping is a process used to shape stone tools using pressure, and requires the ability to control the way certain types of rocks break when they are struck. Spend a day exploring how stone tools such […]
Sunday, July 25, 1:00pm to 4:00 pm (1 hour timeslots) In person, small group event Do you have any stone artifacts or Northeastern Native American cultural items? Between 1:00 and 4:00, sign up for a time slot with our Director of Research and Collections, Lucianne Lavin, Ph. D. for a small group Artifact I.D. Day. Join […]
Looking to expand your reading list and discuss a variety of issues and topics important to Native people? Please join our digital book club, As They Speak: Native Voices in Today’s Literature. Based on a variety of topics and featuring a range of genres, all of the books we will be reading have been written […]
For thousands of years, the Native inhabitants of the Eastern Woodlands were able to make dugout canoes using natural materials found in their environment. Want to get an in depth look at how these vessels were made? Join Museum Assistant Lydia Downs, a graduate student in the Maritime Studies Program at Eastern Carolina University, for […]