Join us for a FREE night of games, music, trivia, and social round dance!
Musical Performance of “49 Songs” from the Ken Cozad Sr. & Friends
This event is a unique opportunity to experience the powerful storytelling and communal spirit embedded in the “49 Songs,” a collection of Indigenous songs that hold deep meaning and serve as a bridge between generations. Ken Cozad Sr. & Friends are nationally recognized, and annual performers at the Heard’s Hoop Dance Contest.
Game Night with Tonya Dunn
Bring your blotters and brush up on your music knowledge as we invite Tonya Dunn (Tohono O’odham, Euchee/Creek) to host a FREE Music Bingo and Trivia night. Play alongside friends and family as Tonya quizzes your music, art, and Indigenous knowledge with these classic group games. We promise you do not want to miss out on some amazing prizes including a chance to win a special edition Jamie Okuma scarf!
Family Activity: Museum Memory Matching Game
Color your own Heard Museum memory-matching game to enjoy at home
Experience the newly remodeled shop – open until 7:30 p.m.
The museum Café will be open until 7 p.m. and the Cantina is open until 8 p.m. Visit the Café to try their new menu items and grab a hot drink from the cantina after visiting inside!
Don’t Forget! With your FREE admission to the museum for First Friday, you’ll be able to see the recently opened exhibitions Meryl McMaster: Bloodline & Space Makers: Indigenous Expression and a New American Art, stop into the newly remodeled Museum Shop, and most importantly, spend time together experiencing all the winter time festivities planned for the night.
About the 49 Songs:
The “49 songs” tradition is believed to have originated from the powwow circuit, where songs were sung in a social, celebratory setting after formal powwow dances. Named after the road routes connecting various Indigenous communities, the 49 songs express themes of love, humor, resilience, and unity, often blending both Indigenous languages and English lyrics. Though the melodies vary from tribe to tribe, each song maintains a shared rhythm that embodies the heartbeat of Indigenous life and reflects the endurance of cultural identity and storytelling in the face of historical challenges.
