Grand Rapids, MI – During the week of Indigenous Peoples’ Day (Monday, October 13), the Grand Rapids Public Museum (GRPM) is hosting two celebrations of Indigenous culture with Anishinaabe Culture Day on Wednesday, October 15, and an Anishinaabe Film series on Saturday, October 18.
“Indigenous Peoples’ Day is observed on Monday, October 13, but for the Native community, every day is Indigenous Peoples’ Day,” said Katrina Furman, GRPM Anishinaabe Curator. “Our traditions continue to be shared through food, art, language, and cultural teachings. The stories passed down by our elders are the same ones that our grandchildren will tell. Come join us at the GRPM, where visitors can learn about the history and ongoing contributions of Anishinaabek people in West Michigan.”
While the Museum’s Anishinabek: The People of this Place exhibit is undergoing a massive update this year, there are still plenty of opportunities for guests throughout the Museum to engage with Anishinaabe stories. Three massive new murals by Anishinaabek artists explore The Creation Story, the lives of modern Anishinabek people, and the Seven Grandfather Teachings. A large-scale projection map on the third floor tells the story of how early trails became today’s highways, the impact of deforestation, Tribal headquarters’ locations, historical Tribal territories, and more.
Anishinaabe Culture Day, Wednesday, October 15, 2025, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
This one-day educational celebration invites visiting school groups to explore the traditions, arts, and history of the Anishinabek, the Indigenous peoples of the region. The event aims to foster understanding and appreciation for Native American cultures through immersive, hands-on learning experiences.
Students will engage in authentic cultural presentations, including traditional dance and drumming performances. They will also participate in interactive activities such as storytelling, pottery, basket weaving, corn husk doll-making, and more, led by Native American community members. A special scavenger hunt across the museum’s three floors will offer a fun and educational way to explore Anishinaabe history and culture.
Anishinaabe Culture Day is a beloved tradition for many local schools, but the GRPM is also open to the general public throughout the day. While some activities are reserved for school groups, visitors are invited to engage with tables and explore vendors and celebrate Anishinaabe culture alongside the students in the Museum’s Galleria. The Curiosity Shop also carries art, jewelry, baskets, books, and more by Native artists and writers.
Anishinaabe Culture Day is sponsored by Downtown Grand Rapids, Inc. and Holiday Inn Grand Rapids Downtown.
Anishinaabe Art and Film Series, Saturday, October 18, 2025, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m.
The GRPM is partnering with local artists and filmmakers who will share their perspectives on Anishinaabe culture, past, present, and future. This unique day will feature films, panel discussions, and Q&As exploring topics like language, wild rice, sturgeon, and art.
Tickets are $2 with admission, and with that ticket, attendees are welcome to drop in for any of the following events:
GRPM Anishinaabe Curator Katrina Furman will have availability for interviews regarding Indigenous Peoples’ Day, Anishinaabe Culture Day, and the Anishinaabe Art and Film Series on Monday, October 13. Reach out to Kellie Rosekrans (krosekrans@grpm.org) for more information about availability.
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Media Contact:
Kellie Rosekrans, Director of Marketing & Customer Strategy
616.929.1713; krosekrans@grpm.org
About Davis Henderson and Bodewadmi Ndaw
Born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, Davis is a citizen of the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Natives. Bodewadmi Ndaw is a documentary focused on the efforts of my tribe, the Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Potawatomi Indians (better known by the public as the Gun Lake Tribe) as well as the Pokagon Band of Pottawatomi as they revitalize our rapidly disappearing language, Bodwéwadmimwen.
About Ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby and The Beguiling
Ishkwaazhe Shane McSauby is an American filmmaker and an enrolled member of the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa and Chippewa Indians. He was born and raised in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Shane is a former Sundance Institute fellow and holds an MFA in writing and directing from NYU Tisch School of the Arts.
Shane’s films have screened in tribal communities, museums and film festivals around the world. Happy Thanksgiving has screened at nine Academy Award-qualifying film festivals, including the Woodstock Film Festival, Nashville Film Festival, and Palm Springs International ShortFest, among others.
Shane’s latest, The Beguiling, made its world premiere at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and its US premiere at the 2025 SXSW film festival. The film follows a burgeoning romance between two Indigenous people that takes an unexpected turn in this bold and thrilling blend of the satirical and the sinister.
Grand Rapids Public Museum The Grand Rapids Public Museum is a 170-year-old, publicly-owned institution home to more than 250,000 unique artifacts that tell the history of Kent County and beyond. Funded in part by Kent County taxpayers through a 10-year millage (2016), the Grand Rapids Public Museum offers three floors of exhibits, the region’s only planetarium, extensive educational offerings, and protection of The Mounds, a National Historic Landmark. The Grand Rapids Public Museum is accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, with its primary location in downtown Grand Rapids, MI at 272 Pearl Street, NW. For additional information including hours of operation, admission fees including Kent County discounts, and exhibit/event listings, visit grpm.org.
