All veterans in attendance will be recognized and encouraged to participate in programs throughout the day.

Festivities Kick off Native American Heritage Month at the World’s Largest Native American Museum

MASHANTUCKET, Conn. – The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center announced today it will host its fifth annual Honoring the Veterans Powwow on Sat., Nov. 5, from 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., inside its 308,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility. This popular celebration unites and honors the Native and non-Native Americans who have bravely served side by side in the U.S. Armed Forces for more than 200 years.

The powwow will feature a Native art and craft market with 25 artisans. In addition, an artist meet and greet will take place from 1 – 3 p.m. featuring select artisans from the museum’s Native Expressions art show, on display from Nov. 1 – Nov. 30 in the temporary gallery, showcasing 100 unique, original pieces for sale during a silent auction on Nov. 19.

Open to the public, the powwow and market are expected to draw roughly 1,000 attendees including veterans, active-duty service members and families. Admission and select food items are free to all veterans and active-duty military with a valid ID, plus one guest. All veterans in attendance will be recognized and encouraged to participate in programs throughout the day. Additional event details are available here.

Attendees will:

- be immersed in breathtaking performances, dazzling regalia and traditional music as 100 dancers and drummers compete inside the two-story, glass-encased gathering space;

- indulge in mouthwatering Native food items crafted by acclaimed chef Sherry Pocknett (Mashpee Wampanoag); and

- enjoy a shopping experience like no other, where they can meet and make purchases directly from more than 25 Native crafters and artists showcasing one-of-a-kind handcrafted jewelry, leather goods, quill work, baskets, flutes, clothing and more.

The Pequot Museum’s Honoring the Veterans Powwow is sponsored in part by the Simon Konover Company and the Pepsi Bottling Group.

About Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center: The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center is a non-profit educational institution that seeks to further knowledge and understanding of the richness and diversity of the indigenous cultures and societies of the U.S. and Canada. The museum consists of permanent exhibits, the Mashantucket Gallery, classrooms, a 320-seat auditorium, restaurant, and museum shop, while the research center houses collections, libraries, archives, and archaeology and conservation laboratories.

The world’s largest Native American museum, The Mashantucket Pequot Museum & Research Center serves as a major resource on the histories and cultures of Native Americans in the northeast and on the region’s rich natural history.