TULSA, Okla. --- Tulsa City-County Library’s American Indian Resource Center (AIRC) will induct Judge Gregory H. Bigler, Euchee, enrolled with the Muscogee Nation of Oklahoma, into the American Indian Circle of Honor during a special presentation at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, March 7 at Hardesty Regional Library, 8316 E. 93rd St. The Circle of Honor will kick off the monthlong American Indian Festival of Words series, in which the AIRC will present free events countywide that highlight American Indian culture and history. Festival of Words programs are for all ages unless otherwise noted. Free events include:
- Osage Language Class on Tuesdays, March 3, 10, 24 and 31 from 6-7 p.m. at Skiatook Library, 316 E. Rogers. Join Jacqueline Delong, Osage Nation Language Department teacher, to learn commonly used words and simple sentences.
- Family Fun With Muscogee Nation’s Tribal TANF on Saturday, March 7 from 9-10:30 a.m. at Hardesty Regional Library. Kids are invited to enjoy crafty fun in the main lobby with Muscogee Nation’s Tribal TANF! For preschoolers and elementary schoolers.
- Take and Make: Mystery Turtle Kits during library hours from March 9-31 at Owasso Library, 314 E. Fifth Ave., Suite 202. Pick up a mystery turtle kit to make at home, while supplies last. For preschoolers to tweens.
- Decolonizing the Kitchen Pantry on Mondays, March 9 and 23 from 6-8 p.m. at Zarrow Regional Library, 2224 W. 51st St. Join us for a workshop exploring practices to incorporate traditional Native foodways into the modern kitchen pantry, facilitated by Chef Nico Williams. Registration is required. For tweens to adults.
- Duno-Logah: Exciting Folktales From Native America on Monday, March 16 from 2-3 p.m. at Bixby Library, 20 E. Breckenridge. Join Native America’s greatest raconteur Will Hill as he regales us with stories of ancient America.
- Native Hand Talk for Families on Monday, March 16 from 4-5 p.m. at Broken Arrow Library, 300 W. Broadway. Join Mike Pahsetopah as he teaches simple sign language phrases and stories for families from the Hand Talk that the Native peoples of this land once used.
- Native Culture Make and Take: Beaded Medallions on Tuesday, March 17 from 2-4 p.m. at Nathan Hale Library, 6038 E. 23rd St. Join Robin Tiger as she teaches the art of beadwork. Learn how to create and bead your own design. Registration is required. For tweens to adults.
- Native Culture Make and Take: Cherokee Pottery on Wednesday, March 18 at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. at Judy Z. Kishner Library, 10150 N. Cincinnati Ave. E., Sperry. Join Cherokee potter Crystal Hanna for Native stories and a hands-on workshop. Registration is required.
- Native Culture Make and Take: Pony Bead Creations on Thursday, March 19 from 2-3 p.m. at Suburban Acres Library, 4606 N. Garrison. Join Stella Foster as she brings pony beads to life with fun, colorful key chains and other creations. For all ages.
- Coyote & Crow: Tabletop Role-Playing Game on Thursday, March 19 from 6-8:45 p.m. at Zarrow Regional Library. Learn to play Coyote & Crow, an award-winning sci-fi and fantasy tabletop role-playing game set in an alternate future where the Americas were never colonized. For teens and adults.
- Native Culture Make and Take: Corn-Husk Dolls on Friday, March 20 from 4-5 p.m. at Glenpool Library, 730 E. 141st St. Learn how to make a corn-husk doll, and learn about its purpose and history (through storytelling) among the Kituwah Cherokee peoples and many of their relatives east of the Mississippi River. Registration is required. For all ages.
- Native Culture Make and Take: Native Patchwork on Saturday, March 21 from 1-3 p.m. at Zarrow Regional Library. Come and learn the basics for Native American patchwork. Ten sewing machines are provided or you may bring your own. Materials are provided to the first 20 people.
To register for an event or learn more about the Circle of Honor and the Festival of Words, visit www.tulsalibrary.org or call the AskUs line at 918-549-7323.
