Events
Celebrate Indigenous Peoples Day with VVAC!
Saturday, October the 12th: 10:00am – 4:00pm
Free Museum and Market Admission
Come to the museum for a fun day celebrating the heritage, culture, and continued contributions of Native Americans and Indigenous Peoples. The festivities include a Native American Artist Market featuring over 25 artists specializing in fine art, weavings, pottery, jewelry, silversmith work, apparel, and crafts! Plus, homemade fry bread will be available for purchase.
NOTE TO ARTISTS: The RSVP period for artists has ended, no further artists are being accepted to the Native American Artist Market on Saturday, October the 12th. The museum is at max capacity for exhibitors. Thank you for your understanding.
At 12:00 pm enjoy an engaging talk presented by Barbara McCabe, Apache Culture Specialist at the Yavapai-Apache Nation. Seating is inside the museum and will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
A Hidden History: An Overview of African American History and Northern Arizona
Presented by Margaret Hangan, Project Archaeologist at Tonto National Forest
Saturday, October the 26th at 11:00am at the VVAC - Reception to follow the presentation
Join Margaret Hangan, Project Archaeologist of Tonto National Forest for an informative presentation about the African American History of Northern Arizona, and the contributions the skilled African American laborers and workers contributed to shaping Arizona’s history and present. After Margaret's insightful talk, please join us for a complimentary reception with delicious nibbles!
Margaret Hangan was born and raised in the Inland Empire of Southern California. She earned her BA in Anthropology at the Pitzer College in Claremont, CA in 1989. Worked as a seasonal Archaeologist until entering a graduate program at California State University, Bakersfield in 1996. Margaret started work as a graduate Student Intern with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in 1998. She completed her MA Thesis in 2003 and became the Archaeologist for the El Centro Field Office of the BLM.
In 2004 she was hired as the Forest Archaeologist and Tribal Relations Specialist for the Cleveland National Forest in San Diego, then transferred to the Kaibab National Forest in Arizona in 2007 and worked as the Forest Archaeologist for 15 years. In 2021, Margaret accepted a position as the Large Project Archaeologist on the Tonto National Forest. Margaret currently serves as the Chair of the Historic Preservation Commission for the City of Williams and the Chair of the Nico Heritage Alliance Board for Historic Camp Naco, a Buffalo Soldier encampment located south of Bisbee, Arizona. She is also a member of the Arizona State Historic Sites Review Board. Margaret’s research interests include African American History of the West with an emphasis on Arizona and the Arizona Historic Sheep Industry.
Seating for this event will be available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The Stories Stones Tell: A Brief Introduction to Lithic Analysis
Instructed by John Rose, VVAC Archaeologist
Friday, November 1: 10:00 am – 12:00 pm at the VVAC
This class is instructed by John Rose, VVAC Archaeologist will take you on a journey discussing stone tools and debitage, and how these materials make up much of the archaeological record. This talk will provide an overview of how archaeologists create a better understanding of past behavior through lithic analysis. The talk concludes with an opportunity for participants to examine a variety of stone tools and debitage.
John Rose is a local archaeologist with more than 30 years of experience working for federal agencies and private cultural resource management firms. His dissertation research looked at changes in stone tool production at a Mayan site in Belize. He recently retired as the Forest Archaeologist on the Prescott National Forest and started his own company, Rio Verde Archaeological Services, LLC. He is a member of the Verde Valley Archaeology Center and Museum’s Advisory Council and currently works as an Archaeologist for the museum. In addition to archaeology, John is the First Vice Commander and Veteran Service Officer at the American Legion Post 40 in Chino Valley, AZ.
VVAC Member and Native American Fee: $25
Non-VVAC Member Fee: $40
VVAC volunteers, greeters and docents: FREE
Online registration for the class is required. Please visit this link:
