American Indian Heritage Day 2020
Online Program
September 25, 2020
Join the Bullock Museum and Great Promise for American Indians in a virtual celebration of the 8th Annual American Indian Heritage Day!
Event Details
With House Bill 174, the Texas State Legislature named the last Friday in September American Indian Heritage Day, which recognizes the historic, cultural, and social contributions American Indian communities and leaders have made to the state.
The day will feature a range of virtual activities including dancing performances, interactive Distance Learning classes, storytelling, artmaking, and learning activities to explore at home or in school that celebrate the traditional and contemporary performance arts of Texas's American Indian groups.
Scheduled Live Events
- Distance Learning Native Cultures in Texas Webinar | 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
Join a Bullock Museum educator and the Becoming Texas curator for a live webinar. Compare the ways of life of diverse American Indian peoples who called Texas home. Take a close look at the artifacts that tell the story of the development of native communities in Texas.
This program is designed for elementary and middle school audiences, but we invite anyone who is looking for an enriching and fun experience to connect with us.
VIEW THE RECORDING - Interactive Storytelling Webinar | 11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Join Chickasaw storyteller, Amy Bluemel, for a live storytelling session that explores traditional stories and history. Amy travels the United States educating about Southeastern people and other native tribes. This event will bring history and culture to life!
VIEW THE RECORDING
Activities at Your Leisure
Discover the history and personal stories of contemporary American Indian dancers.
Bullock Museum craft activities
(~10-15 minutes)
Form a coil pot from clay using Caddo pottery as inspiration.
Activity materials: Air-dry Clay, PlayDough, or Model Magic, plastic knife, and toothpick
VIEW HERE
Make a patterned armband inspired by American Indian beadwork.
Activity materials: Bullock Museum Armband template, scissors, tape, and 3 colors of markers or crayons
VIEW HERE
Create your own "bison hide art" to tell a story.
Activity materials: Construction paper, paper grocery bag, or fabric, scissors, and markers or crayons
VIEW HERE
Great Promise for American Indians video tutorials
(~15-25 minutes)
Make a corn husk doll while learning about the Haudenosaunee origin story of the Corn Husk Doll.
Activity materials: 5 corn husks, scissors, string, felt sheet (optional), and bowl of water
VIEW HERE
Create a dreamcatcher and learn about the story of this traditional native craft.
Activity materials: hoop at least 3 inches in diameter, 1 spool of 1/8 inch ribbon, 1-3 beads for decoration, 1 feather, and scissors
VIEW HERE
Try your hand at beading by crafting a pony bead keychain in the shape of a lizard.
Activity materials: plastic cord, key chain ring, scissors, and total of 50 pony beads: 36 green pony beads for body, 12 orange or yellow pony beads for feet, 2 black pony beads for eyes
VIEW HERE
Jeri Redcorn, Caddo pottery
Jeri Redcorn is recognized nationally and internationally for reviving Caddo pottery. Here she shares the clays, techniques, and tools her Caddo ancestors would have used.
VIEW HERE
Miranda Nax’ce Meyer, Tonkawa beading
Miranda Nax’ce Meyer of the Tonkawa Tribe shares the importance of traditional bead work and its role in keeping Tonkawa culture alive.
VIEW HERE
Projectile Point
Discovered in central Texas, this stone point with a broken tip was made at least 16,000 years ago. This one small point challenges our ideas of when humans arrived in Texas.
VIEW HERE
La Belle
Archaeologists located the sunken 17th century French ship La Belle and began a decades-long process of excavating, recovering, and conserving the ship's hull, along with more than 1.6 million artifacts.
VIEW HERE
Saint Francis Santo
The Franciscans in the missions of San Antonio used figures such as this Santo of St. Francis to communicate their faith to the American Indian groups of Texas.
VIEW HERE
Mission Gate
A master craftsman with a high level of expertise in woodworking made this pair of mesquite gates for a mission.
VIEW HERE
Eric Tippeconnic, Comanche artist
Filled with symbolism and meaning, Eric Tippeconnic's paintings highlight the strength, beauty, and grace of the Comanche past and present.
VIEW HERE
Learning Resources
- Discover the history of American Indians on the Texas History Timeline
- Use the Bullock Educator Guide to access resources and materials on teaching about American Indians
- Explore artifacts and media related to American Indian culture and history
- Dive into the story of American Indian history and culture in Texas
- Check out our recommended children's book list for your next story time
Educators: To receive CPE credit, email Education@TheStoryofTexas.com
Your Support Matters
Help us continue to share the story of Texas through free programs with a tax-deductible donation.
Enjoy discounts, exclusive programs, and free access to exhibitions year round by becoming a member of the Bullock Museum.
The Bullock Texas State History Museum is a division of the Texas State Preservation Board. Additional support for educational programming provided by the Texas State History Museum Foundation.
School Field Trips presented by The John M. O'Quinn Foundation.
School Programs are generously funded by Featured Sponsors The Marie M. and James H. Galloway Foundation, Supporting Sponsors The Honorable Kent R. Hance and The William Stamps Farish Fund, and Contributing Sponsor The Burdine Johnson Foundation.
