North Carolina Zoo to Host Indigenous Powwow

In partnership with Indigenous community organizers, the North Carolina Zoo and Botanical Gardens will host an American Indian Powwow at its Solar Pointe picnic area this weekend. The N.C. Zoo is part of the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources.

Powwows are traditional social gatherings celebrated by many Indigenous cultures, including those in North Carolina. The event on Saturday, Oct. 4, runs 10:30 a.m.-3 p.m. The celebration is free to the public and does not require Zoo admission to attend. Guests are invited to experience a day of dancing, song, art, learning and more, highlighting the legacy and traditional cultures of multiple Indigenous communities living in North Carolina today.

"The Zoo serves and welcomes all cultures, and values the sharing of knowledge, history and tradition," said Diane Villa, interim director of the North Carolina Zoo. "The state of North Carolina is situated on the ancestral land of many American Indian tribes who have lived in this place, cared for these lands and traveled throughout the region for thousands of years. We honor them as the first stewards of this place and celebrate the enduring presence, vibrance and diversity of contemporary Indigenous communities still thriving here today."

Ryan Dial, a cultural educator and enrolled member of the Lumbee Tribe of North Carolina, worked closely with members of the Zoo team to organize and share this event with residents and guests. Tribes represented include Lumbee, Coharie and Waccamaw Siouan.

Full details are available at https://www.nczoo.org/events.

About the North Carolina Zoo
At the North Carolina Zoo, we celebrate nature. As the world's largest natural habitat Zoo, we inspire a lifelong curiosity about animals in the hundreds of thousands of people who visit our Zoo each year. Our dedicated team of experts provides exceptional, compassionate care for the more than 1,700 animals and 52,000 plants that call our Park home. We also lead efforts locally and globally to protect wildlife and wild places because we believe nature's diversity is critical for our collective future. The North Carolina Zoo invites all of our guests to witness the majesty of the wild in the heart of North Carolina and welcomes everyone to join in our mission to protect nature's diversity. Visit NCZoo.orgto begin your life-changing journey.

About the North Carolina Department of Natural and Cultural Resources
The N.C. Department of Natural and Cultural Resources (DNCR) manages, promotes, and enhances the things that people love about North Carolina - its diverse arts and culture, rich history, and spectacular natural areas. Through its programs, the department enhances education, stimulates economic development, improves public health, expands accessibility, and strengthens community resiliency.

The department manages over 100 locations across the state, including 27 historic sites, seven history museums, two art museums, five science museums, four aquariums, 35 state parks, four recreation areas, dozens of state trails and natural areas, the North Carolina Zoo, the State Library, the State Archives, the N.C. Arts Council, the African American Heritage Commission, the American Indian Heritage Commission, the State Historic Preservation Office, the Office of State Archaeology, the Highway Historical Markers program, the N.C. Land and Water Fund, and the Natural Heritage Program. For more information, please visit https://www.dncr.nc.gov.

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