Editor’s Note: This event has been preemptively canceled because of the weather forecast.
The Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum will be holding a celebration for Indigenous Peoples Day with a Native American Artist Market and guest speaker on Saturday, Oct. 11 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Held on the second Monday in October, Indigenous Peoples Day recognizes the cultures, heritages and continued contributions of American Indians and indigenous peoples.
The museum will offer free admission for both the artist market and museum entry. The market will feature more than 30 artists exhibiting and selling their fine art, weaving, pottery, jewelry, kachinas, silversmith work, apparel and crafts. Homemade fry bread will also be available for purchase.
“Alongside preserving and conserving archaeology, a core part of the museum’s mission is to educate, and part of that education is through cross-cultural connections,” said Monica Buckle, VVAC’s executive director. “One of the best ways to learn is to meet people of various backgrounds and heritages in person and to speak with them. It’s also essential to buy directly from Native American artists, where you can see their crafts, speak with the artists and support them.”
At noon, Clive J. Hustito, a master carver and sculptor of the Zuni tribe, will give a presentation on Zuni fetishes, their symbolism and their relationship to all people present day. Hustito started carving animals when he was 8 years old, creating a bear with a pocket knife. He has made fetish carvings and sculptures for
over 30 years, and will be presenting other multi-media arts & crafts he’s created. He is the son of the late Clifford Mahooty [1944 — 2022], a Zuni elder, who had a strong presence in the Verde Valley, worked on various government programs for 40 years with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of the Interior’s Bureau of Indian Affairs and the U.S. Public Health Service.
Seating for the presentation is located inside the museum and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. Following Hustito’s talk, a complimentary reception of hors d’oeuvres and non-alcoholic beverages will be provided.
“VVAC is privileged to serve as stewards to an Ancestral Hopi artifact collection that consists of artifacts and cultural items from the Dyck Cliff Dwelling site,” Buckle said. VVAC is also a steward of Yavapai-Apache Nation artifacts and cultural items. “It’s wonderful that we serve as custodians and we maintain the integrity of each item in the collection with museum best practices and collection care,” Buckle continued.
VVAC works closely with the Hopi Cultural Preservation Office and the Yavapai-Apache Cultural Office, and adheres to federal law, the Native American Graves Protection and Repatriation Act and any guidelines issued by the Department of the Interior.
“We’re stewards to an archaeology collection, however, what modern archeology is really about is bringing those voices that may have not had the opportunity to speak for various reasons in the past into the museum space and having their input on the collections,” Buckle added. The museum also works with affiliated tribal artists, community leaders and members.
The museum is located at 460 W. Finnie Flat Road in Camp Verde.
For more information, visit verdevalleyarchaeology.org.
