Cultural immersion with the Nanticoke Nation
Photos courtesy of Jon Cox November 12, 2024
Celebrating the Nanticoke Nation during National Native American Heritage Month
The Nanticoke, whose name means the “tidewater people,” have lived in what is now Delaware for much longer than 200 years, and they continue to be a vibrant community here.
“They are living in a contemporary society just as we are, but the Nanticoke people are still connected to the land while holding onto their culture and customs,” said Jon Cox, associate professor of art and design.
The Nanticoke Nation’s rich history and culture will be celebrated by the University of Delaware’s Library, Museums and Press as a part of National Native American Heritage Month in November. All are invited to attend the Cultural Immersion: Dialogue, Storytelling and Dance with the Nanticoke Nation event, which will be held from 4 to 6 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 13, outside in UD’s Alumni Circle across from the Mechanical Hall Gallery. The rain location will be in room 101 of Taylor Hall. Registration is requested.
Cultural Immersion is supported, in part, by a grant from the Delaware Division of the Arts and is collaboratively hosted along with the MINE: What is Ours in the Wake of Extraction art exhibition, which is co-curated by Cox.
Bonnie Hall, a leader in the Nanticoke Nation, will kick off the event with welcoming remarks, and Ragghi Rain, a renowned Native American storyteller, will share traditional stories about the cultural heritage and wisdom of Native American people. The Nanticoke Nation’s multigenerational dance group will share a vibrant dance performance.
Light refreshments, including indigenous and sustainably grown coffee and chocolate from the Peruvian Amazon, will be available following the performances.
“One of the key aspects of this event is the on-campus collaboration,” said Lori Birrell, associate University librarian for special collections and the director of museums. “It is emblematic of what the Library, Museums and Press is doing — creating content and events that engage people to think critically about the world around them.”
UD’s efforts toward highlighting Indigenous communities continues beyond Cultural Immersion. Attendees are also encouraged to visit the Mechanical Hall Gallery to view the MINE exhibition, an exploration of the impact of the illegal gold mining boom on the Madre de Dios region in the Peruvian Amazon and the ramifications endured by the people and the land.
The MINE exhibit — presented in collaboration with the Amazon Center for Environmental Education and Research Foundation, Amazon Aid, AWA and Studio Verde — is free of charge and open to the public 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesdays through Fridays until Dec. 13 and again from Feb. 4 to May 15, 2025.
Inquiries about future collaborations with the Library, Museums and Press’ Special Collections and Museums staff should be emailed to Lori Birrell.
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