Largo, Maryland – The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) is hosting a variety of events to mark Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage this November, including programs featuring Indigenous storytelling, music, and dance for children, a Rock Banned Book Club discussion about Sherman Alexie’s debut YA novel “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” a discussion for adults about connecting to and with local Native ancestry, and more. 
“PGCMLS celebrates Native American and Indigenous cultures and voices through a variety of exciting events featuring local experts, tribe members, engaging stories, and fun activities for all ages,” said Rachel Zukowski, the Library’s program services manager. “Our dedicated team of library staff meet regularly to ensure that programs and resources are informative, accurate, and culturally relevant.”

Featured programs and descriptions for November 2023 include:

STEM for Families: Mayan Math and Iroquois Wampum Coding

Learn about the ways science, technology, engineering, and mathematics intersect with Native American and Indigenous traditions with “Mayan Math,” at the Largo-Kettering Branch Library on Tuesday, November 7 at 5:30 pm, or “Iroquois Wampum Coding” at the New Carrollton Branch Library on Wednesday, November 8 at 6 pm. STEM for Families programs are geared toward children ages 5-12, offering hands-on experiments and activities.

Indigenous Children's Stories: An Interactive Exploration and Discussion for Kids

The University of Maryland’s Native American and Indigenous Student Union visit the Greenbelt Branch Library on Tuesday, November 7 and the Laurel Branch Library on Tuesday, November 14, both events at 6 pm, to present, “Indigenous Children’s Stories: An Interactive Exploration and Discussion for Kids,” aimed at school-aged children.

Rock Banned Book Club: "The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian" by Sherman Alexie

This month, join the Rock Banned Book Club’s discussion of Sherman Alexie’s “The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian,” a YA novel that centers on Junior, a teen who lives on the Spokane Indian Reservation and wants to draw cartoons, decides to enroll at an all-white high school to seek new opportunities. The discussion takes place on Wednesday, November 8 at 6:30 pm at the Accokeek Branch Library.

Exploring Native Ancestry: Navigating the Path to Reconnection

Troi Madison Newman, a Black-Indigenous enrolled citizen of the Piscataway Conoy Tribe, discusses ways to connect with Native ancestry through approaches such as conducting genealogical research, connecting with local Indigenous communities, and more, as well as providing historical context about Indigenous communities in the Mid-Atlantic region, at the South Bowie Branch Library on Tuesday, November 21 at 6 pm. 

Native American Heritage: Past, Present, and Future

In this program, presented by John Scott-Richardson, an enrolled member of the Haliwa-Saponi Nation of North Carolina, elementary-aged children will explore themes of history, resilience, and the future through drumming, dance, and storytelling. Watch the show on Tuesday, November 28 at Accokeek Branch Library or Wednesday, November 29 at  Spauldings Branch Library. Both events begin at 6 pm. 

Additional Resources 

Be sure to visit PGCMLS’ Native American and Indigenous Heritage Hub for a full list of events for children, teens, and adults, as well as information about Native American and Indigenous communities, relevant library resources, booklists and more.

Library customers can also use the Guide to Indigenous Maryland website to explore a map of 21 natural and historic landmarks significant to state Native American and Indigenous history. The project, overseen by the Maryland State Library Agency, PGCMLS, and Maryland’s public libraries, was curated by Dr. Elizabeth Rule, assistant professor of Critical Race, Gender, and Culture Studies at American University in Washington, DC, and an enrolled citizen of the Chickasaw Nation.

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About the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System

The Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS) helps customers discover and define opportunities that shape their lives. The Library serves the 967,000+ residents of Prince George’s County, Maryland through 19 branch libraries, a 24/7 online library, and pop-up services throughout the community. PGCMLS is a responsive and trusted community-driven organization. Programs, services, and outreach activities serve book lovers, immigrants and refugees, job seekers, children, young professionals, seniors, and families alike. PGCMLS is the recipient of the 2021 Urban Libraries Council Top Innovator Award for Workforce and Economic Development. Learn more at pgcmls.info/about-us.