Montgomery County Public Libraries (MCPL) will celebrate Native American Heritage Month and Military Family Month in November with two special events. The Rockville Memorial Library will host a musical storytelling program featuring Mwalim “DaPhunkee Professor” Peters, highlighting cultural intersections between African and First Nations people, at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Nov. 14. The Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library will present a discussion with Alexandra N. Harris from the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian on the history of Native American military service at 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 20.
“November offers us the opportunity to reflect on the rich heritage and contributions of Native Americans, as well as the sacrifices made by military families,” said County Executive Marc Elrich. “These events offer a space for meaningful conversations and learning, from exploring the deep cultural ties between African and First Nations people to honoring the legacy of Native Americans in our armed forces. They remind us of our shared history and the diverse threads that strengthen our community, and I encourage everyone to attend.”
Morgan James Peters, a nationally recognized educator and lecturer from the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe known as Mwalim “DaPhunkee Professor,” will appear in Rockville as part of MCPL’s “Contemporary Conversations” program. Peters will present a musical storytelling experience that explores the cultural intersections between African and First Nations people, foundational to American culture.
Mr. Peters is an acclaimed artist and scholar recognized for his contributions to oral tradition through various forms of media, including music, literature and theater. He is a founding member of his tribe’s Educational Department and a tenured associate professor of English and Black Studies at UMass Dartmouth.
The Rockville Library is located at 21 Maryland Ave. in Rockville. Registration is required. For more information and to register, click here.
This program is co-sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County; the Montgomery County Office of Racial Equity and Social Justice; the Montgomery County Office of Human Rights; the Montgomery County Office of Community Partnerships and Classrooms 2 Community.
The Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library will present “Why We Serve: Native Americans in the United States Armed Forces.” The free program will feature Alexandra N. Harris, senior editor at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian. She will discuss her co-authored book, which chronicles the significant history of service by American Indians, Alaska Natives and Native Hawaiians in the U.S. military.
The Brigadier General Charles E. McGee Library is located at 900 Wayne Ave. in Silver Spring. Registration is required. For more information and to register, click here. The event is sponsored by Friends of the Library, Montgomery County.
Visit MCPL's event calendar to view a list of additional virtual and in-person programs celebrating Native American Heritage Month.