Native American Heritage Day; a Good Day to Learn

Above, image from The Pequot War, a film shown at the Mashantucket Pequot Museum.

According to Wikipedia, President George W. Bush signed into law legislation introduced by Congressman Joe Baca (D-Calif.), to designate the Friday after Thanksgiving as Native American Heritage Day. It was a measure supported by the National Indian Gaming Association (NIGA) and 184 federally recognized tribes. But its proximity to Thanksgiving (regarded as a day of mourning by some of indigenous ancestry) and Black Friday have conspired to make it less popular than it might have been.

Even if the timing is inauspicious, the day offers a good excuse to delve into the region's resources for learning about indigenous history and culture.  A couple of options include:

The Robbins Museum, operated by the Massachusetts Archaeological Society in Middleboro, aims to "foster respect for the rich archaeological and cultural heritage of the New England region through its commitment to education, research, and historic preservation." It features artifacts and dioramas that bring alive the region's culture before and during the period of contact with Europeans. Currently the museum is only open Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. It's a good idea to call ahead to confirm.

The Mashantucket Pequot Museum in Eastern Connecticut is a world-class, multimedia extravaganza created by the local Pequot community with the help of revenues from the neighboring casino. The museum is open from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM Tuesday- Saturday (November Only) and  Wednesday – Saturday (December – October) with
Last Admission 4:00 PM. PLEASE NOTE – The Pequot Museum will be undergoing some Maintenance and improvements and will be closed to the public from January 14 thru February 4th. The museum will reopen on February 8th.

On Cape Cod, the vibrant Mashpee Community operates a museum (likely seasonal, check before going.) 

Also on Cape Cod, Heritage Museum and Gardens has a typical Wompanoag dwelling on display.

In Plymouth, the renamed Plimoth Patuxet Museums (formerly Plimouth Plantation) brings to life the history of Plymouth Colony and the Indigenous homeland. Exhibits include the Patuxet Homesite, 17th-Century English Village, Mayflower II and Plimoth Grist Mill.