The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center and Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum are partnering for a second time to host an event featuring Native American storytelling and stargazing in Warner, giving attendees an opportunity to explore the stars through an indigenous cultural lens on Friday.
Anastasia Glavas, the deputy director of the Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, said participants can expect to engage in discussions about the symbols and animals that Native American tribes historically associated with various things, along with astronomy.
One of the storytellers leading the event is Madeleine Wright, who is a member of the Nulhegan Band of Coosuk Abenaki.
The McAuliffe-Shepard Discovery Center’s executive director, Jeanne Gerulskis, emphasized that the center’s focus on Native American history serves as a tribute not only to the Native Americans who once occupied the land but also as an opportunity to acknowledge and appreciate the Native Americans who still live in the area and their cultural heritage.
“I think it’s important to know the stories of the people in the place where you live, and that’s really important that it’s part of the cultural history of the place where you’re situated,” said Gerulskis. “I think it’s really important for Native American children to feel validated.”
Gerulskis also noted that the constellations named after Greek mythology, such as Ursa Major or Orion, were not chosen for scientific reasons but for standardization in the early 19th century.
Similarly, the Native American constellations were based on their own stories and beliefs, offering a unique perspective on the night sky.
Funded through a grant from the New Hampshire Humanities, the program that is free to the public will take place in the museum’s parking lot in Warner from 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. on Friday. The Discovery Center will set up telescopes for viewing stars and other celestial objects.
