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Dutchess County’s history and culture have been shaped by Indigenous peoples, First Nations and Native Americans that call the Hudson Valley home. Immerse yourself in vibrant Indigenous art from contemporary creators, discover natural destinations and historic sites important to the community and examine history through enriching events.
Now through November 26, Hessel Museum of Art at Bard College, Annandale-on-Hudson
Discover more than 100 works by artists from a vast range of perspectives and cultures at Bard College’s Hessel Museum of Art. These contemporary Indigenous creatives create art in a variety of media including sculptures, paintings, choreography, performance art, beadwork, video, drawings and other forms. The first large-scale exhibition of its kind, “Indian Theater: Native Performance, Art, and Self-Determination Since 1969” also showcases archival material chronicling the New Native Theater movement in Sante Fe in the late 1960s. Native American, Alaska Native, Inuit, Métis and First Nations artists inspire discourse and contemplation with pieces that tackle cultural criticism with humor and inventiveness. The title “Indian Theater” refers to a 1969 document, Indian Theatre: An Artistic Experiment in Process, published by the Institute for American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Hessel Museum is free to the public, and making a reservation via free timed ticket is strongly encouraged. For more information on this exhibit (including oral histories with artists you can listen to online), click here.
On November 18, several performances will be held at this groundbreaking exhibition. First, experience the installation “White Carver” by Nicholas Galanin, a Tlingit and Unangax̂ multidisciplinary artist. A commentary on the appropriation and fetishization of Native art and artists by non-Indigenous peoples, “White Carver” has an unnamed white man attempting to recreate Galanin’s work while separated from it by a velvet rope. This performance begins at 12 p.m.
Next at 2 p.m., Maria Hupfield (Anishinaabek, Wasauksing First Nation [Canada]) presents “Total Synchronization”, where works transcend their medium. Hupfield’s creative choreography has sculptures become performers and the art gallery becomes a performance space. Four of her pieces are on display at the Hessel Museum, but this unique performance of shared experience and collective creation is one not to miss. The performance incorporates score, vocalizations and sounds as art.
At 8 p.m., “Listener” by Kite concludes the day of live encounters with art. Suzanne Kite of Oglála Lakĥóta heritage breaks new ground by using machine learning (a form of AI) in art practices. Demonstrating the intersection of historical tradition and modern innovation, Kite meshes elements of Lakota Visual Language with futuristic technologies. The performer wears an electronic interface that plays synthesizers and poetry woven into their hair, which is sacred to the Lakota people.
November 12, 5 p.m. at The Yard, Beacon
Story Screen Presents invites visitors to a special screening of the new documentary film Lakota Nation vs. The United States . The film examines the history of conflict in the sacred lands of the Black Hills, and discusses Indigenous soverignty in the modern age. For tickets to this free screening, click here.
November 28, 7 p.m. at Beacon Elks Lodge
Learn about the last Sachem of the Wappinger people, Chief Daniel Nimham, at this special presentation in Beacon. This program focuses on Nimham's battle to retain his people's homeland along the Hudson Highlands. Nimham and his son Abraham were both among the first American combat veterans, as both gave their lives in the American Revolutionary War. Peter Cutul of Fort Montgomery State Historic Site will lead the discussion.
Saturday, Nov. 4, 1 p.m. at Mount Gulian Historic Site, Beacon
The Lenape People were among the first inhabitants of the Hudson Valley region. Visit Beacon’s Mount Gulian Historic Site for a discussion of Lenape history, culture and current resurgence. In 1685, Gulian Verplanck and Francis Rombout purchased the land Mount Gulian stands on from the Native Amerians who lived there. The 85,000-acre parcel was exchanged for about $1,200 worth of goods. Prior to this purchase, the Lenape used this property as a seasonal encampment along the Hudson River. Scholar Harv Hilowitz from the Maritime Museum in Kingston presents this discussion and examines the Lenape diaspora.
Related: Top 10 Events in November
Tour Mesier Homestead in the charming Village of Wappingers Falls, and learn about the Wappinger (Wappani) tribe’s culture through a collection of artifacts. The name Wappinger is derived from “Wapinkw”, meaning opossum and Eastern People. The Dutch added "er" to the name. The Wappinger peoples were related to the Algonquins, and inhabited the lands east of the Hudson River stretching from New York City north to the capital region. More than 2,000 objects belong to the collection at Mesier Homestead, some of which date back nearly 8,500 years ago. Tools like scrapers, hatchets, knives and projectiles like spear points and arrowheads provide insight into the approach and lifestyle of the Wappinger people. Professor and archaeologist Thomas Lake examined and cataloged the collection in 2012, helping to tell the story of hunting, farming, trading and celebrations of the Wappinger. See these items on a guided tour, offered on weekdays by reservation and on select Sundays. To make your reservation, click here.
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Participate in an iconic tradition by walking stretches of the Appalachian Trail through Dutchess County. The Harlem Valley Appalachian Trail Conservancy strives to celebrate and conserve the cultures of the diverse peoples that have called these lands home. Schaghticoke ancestral homelands cover the Hudson Valley and Harlem Valley regions of New York, and extend through neighboring portions of modern-day Massachusetts and Connecticut. In fact, historical documentation of the Schaghticoke peoples in this region dates to the 1670s. Schaghticoke means “the mingling of waters”, and carries the special significance of referring to where local watersheds join as well as the merged union of related Algonquin speaking tribes. For more resources from Schaghticoke First Nations, click here.
Today, Appalachian Trail through-hikers can climb to the top of Schaghticoke Mountain via Dutchess County trailheads. On these trails, visitors can see the beloved Dover Oak, the oldest known tree on the AT which has a 22-feet circumference and is estimated to be over 300 years old. Be sure to keep the tranquil trails and beautiful landscapes of Eastern Dutchess as you found it by “carrying in-carrying out”. For more hidden-gem hikes, get our Zen Finder outdoor experience passport.
There is little historical evidence that the Native American tribes living along the Hudson River—The Wappinger, The Algonquin and the Lenni-Lenape, among others—also inhabited Pollepel Island. However, they were aware of the island and there is documentation supporting references to it. One group referred to the island as “Manahtis”, meaning “small island”. Another designated it the “divider of the waters”. Though few artifacts have been uncovered on the island, major excavations uncovered well-developed Indigenous encampments on the eastern shore of the Hudson River facing Pollepel Island directly. These researchers discovered and identified oyster shell mounds and other tools. In fact, Francis Bannerman VI found a centuries-old arrowhead on the island, so Indigenous activities on the island may be revealed in the future through ongoing research. According to local legend, the island was considered haunted by several groups, and the Dutch sailors in the area often told fanciful tales of what happened to them on and around the island.
Today, from May-October, Bannerman Castle on Pollepel Island can be toured via ferry ride from Beacon. Just steps away from the MTA Beacon Train Station, board the Estuary Steward and explore the island, discovering the ruins of a medieval-style castle as well as live performances, screenings and living history events. For more, click here.
Chickasaw Business
Hungry for farm-fresh foods? The Hog in the Village of Wappingers Falls serves every palette, from those seeking light and nutritious salads and bowls to hungry diners looking to indulge in outrageous fried chicken sandwiches and other decadent breakfast creations. Husband-and-wife duo Adam and Corrinne Sternberg run this community staple hangout, and while Chef Adam prepares the dishes, you’re most likely to interact with Corrinne when you visit. As a member of the Chickasaw community, Corrinne and The Hog were recently recognized with the official Chickasaw Business Certification, connecting them with other Chickasaw-owned businesses through a registry.
“Having The Hog registered as a certified Chickasaw business makes me feel a connection to the tribe beyond recognition of my bloodline. It means my contributions to the community are valued as a contribution to the tribe’s community as well, which is an honor. Above all else, it’s a means to showcase my pride for the tribe on a public level,” Sternberg says.
“Because of this, I was able to connect with a Chickasaw follower who actually worked on the reservation and we look forward to connecting more. I hope this certification paves the way for more of these connections, because I know there are more of us here in the Hudson Valley!”
To see the ever-changing menu at The Hog, click here.
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