This month we’re celebrating New York City’s rich connections to the indigenous populations of North America, in particular the Lenape.
Overall I think New York City could use more places which mark its indigenous roots. By which I mean, places for New Yorkers to actually visit, landmarks and public art which illustrate the connection between New York’s present and its past (beyond our 400 year celebration of the Dutch arrival in New York.)
Fortunately there are organizations like the Lenape Center who are working to improve that visibility. And this month, lots of places are tying programming into National Native American Heritage Month, a nationwide look at the country’s indigeonous roots.
So it’s a great time to tap into these unique stories. Here’s a few places throughout the city that we recommend you visit this month. And tell them the Bowery Boys and NYC Tourism sent you!
Relative Arts, an East Village studio and shop dedicated to the subject,
New York Parks Department will be celebrating with an event Inwood Hill Park on November 16
The Voices of Lenape video exhibit throughout the month at Prospect Park’s Lefferts Historic House
Historic Richmond Town also honors Indigenous culture and tradition at its Hearth & Harvest Festival on November 22, through demonstrations of Native dance, crafts and stories.
And of course, there’s always the National Museum of the American Indian (temporarily closed due to the federal government shutdown) and the American Indian Community House each hold events throughout the year and make sure stories of Indigenous communities are preserved and amplified.
We are huge fans of the lower Manhattan museum, which holds exhibits exploring subjects such as ancestral traditions and New York’s native heritage—there’s even a contemporary art display incorporating Marvel figures and NYC’s streetscape
In addition, there is also special programming being presented at the New York Public Library. Check it out!
National Native American Heritage month runs throughout the month of November. Read about this program and all the other exciting events and world-class institutions commemorating the five boroughs’ legacy of groundbreaking achievements, and find ways to celebrate the city that’s always making history at Founded by NYC.
And for more information on New York City’s Native American history, check out these Bowery Boys podcasts: