The River of Time Museum and Exploration Center invites the community to join in kicking off Native American Indigenous Peoples month with Indigenous Food and Culture Day to celebrate the history and culture of the local Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation (FMYN) tribe.

The day-long celebration is Saturday, Nov. 2, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. and will feature artists and craftspeople from the FMYN tribe and native food vendors from regional tribal businesses.

Handcrafted jewelry, art and regional food items will be available for purchase.

Over 20 vendors will be located throughout the River of Time galleries and will be available to describe their works and share their native heritage.

Special craft projects will be available for younger visitors.

Admission to the event is offered free thanks in part to a grant from the Arizona Historical Society. The festival is presented in partnership with the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation.

Roots and Remedies, Native Plants as Food and Medicine

The Indigenous Food and Culture Day will also launch the River of Time’s new pop-up exhibit, “Roots and Remedies, Native Plants as Food and Medicine,” highlighting the diverse uses of Arizona native desert plants as sources of food and medicine.

Featured in the exhibit is the rare Saguaro cactus found only in the Sonoran Desert. Often portrayed as a symbol of the West, the Saguaro is known as the pharmacy, hardware shop and grocery store of the desert providing medicine, shelter materials and food to the people of Indigenous cultures. Many species of wildlife also rely on this diverse plant for food and shelter.

The exhibit will be open Nov. 2, through 4 p.m. and on display through December 31, 2024.

The River of Time Museum & Exploration Center is open Wednesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

To check out all of the fall happenings, visit riveroftime.center.