Largo, Maryland – Prince Georgians have the opportunity to learn about and celebrate the cultural traditions represented in the County year-round through the Prince George’s County Memorial Library System (PGCMLS). This November, the Library launches its new Native American Heritage and Indigenous Peoples Hub as part of the Prince George’s County Heritage Project. The webpage contains reading and streaming recommendations, featured virtual events, and resources for learning about Native American cultures.

Prince George’s County stands on the traditional lands of the Mattapanient, Patuxent, Piscataway, Moyaone, Pamunkey, and Mattapanient communities. The Library invites all Prince Georgians to honor the land itself and the people who have stewarded it throughout the generations. As stated by the Prince George’s County Council, “The native and indigenous peoples of Prince George's County and the United States have significantly contributed to the rich fabric of history and culture we celebrate in our communities and should be rightly recognized. Whether it is the Piscataway-Conoy tribe in the County or the many Native American tribes indigenous to every region of our nation, recognizing their place as the 'First Americans' is long overdue.”

Featured virtual events for Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month are listed below and streamed at pgcmls.info/events.

Thursday, November 5 at 4 pm: Community Conversation with Dr. Elizabeth Rule (Director of the AT&T Center for Indigenous Politics and Policy) and Rico Newman (Member of the Elders Council of the Choptico Band of Piscataway Indians), hosted by PGCMLS CEO Roberta Phillips (Adults)

Monday, November 9 at 10 am: Native American Heritage Month Read Aloud (Ages 2-5)

Thursday, November 12 at 7 pm: Native American and Indigenous Peoples Heritage Month Reader’s Advisory (Teens/Adults)

Friday, November 20 at 3 pm: Crafternoon: Native American Dreamcatchers (All ages)

PGCMLS offers free access to ABC-CLIO’s The American Indian Experience, an online encyclopedia where students and customers can research Native American cultures and history with primary sources.

Native American Heritage Week (November 23-30) was first recognized in 1986 during the Reagan administration and was expanded to Native American Heritage Month in 1990 under President George H.W. Bush. American Indian Heritage Day is celebrated on the fourth Friday of November in the state of Maryland. Prince George’s County designated the second Monday in October as Native American Day. It was celebrated for the first time this year.

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 915,000+ 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. The Books from Birth and Ready 2 Read programs make the Library the primary source of early literacy education and Kindergarten readiness programs in the County. 

PGCMLS’ robust online offerings include curated content collections for kids, teens, educators, Spanish speakers, and more. Virtual events and outreach provide access to the Library from the comfort of home or on the go. Special programs include the D.R.E.A.M. Lab, STEM Pals, and 3D printing, which offer teens and lifelong learners with opportunities to learn cutting-edge technology and STEM skills for job readiness or personal enrichment. The Library also provides drive-up WiFi access at all branches and mobile hotspot devices. The Library’s Laurel Branch Library received the 2018 AIA/ALA Library Building Award and was designated the best new public building in Maryland.