Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers Perform to Celebrate Native American Heritage Month

October 31, 2019

All are welcome to celebrate Native American Heritage Month and learn more about American Indian history, culture and traditions on Thursday, Nov. 7 when the Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers perform at Hudson Valley Community College. The free event is noon to 1 p.m. in the Bulmer Telecommunications Center Auditorium on the Troy campus.

Mark Tayac and the Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers carry on the long‐standing traditions and culture of their indigenous ancestors. The troupe travels from the Tayac Territory in Port Tobacco, MD with its colorful, educational and entertaining pow wow‐style program of American Indian dance, drum and song. The Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers also appear frequently on the History and Discovery channels, and perform regularly at the Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC and at major Native American festivals throughout the United States. Successors of the Algonquin peoples, members of the Piscataway Nation were the first Native Americans to encounter Captain John Smith along the Potomac River in 1608.

The Dollar Baby Film Festival: Short Films Based on Short Works by Stephen King – scheduled for 7 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 22 in the BTC Auditorium – closes out the fall 2019 schedule of cultural events at the college. A Dollar Baby is born when Stephen King allows a fledgling filmmaker to film one of his short works for just $1, as he’s done since 1977. The festival is a rare opportunity to view four short King‐inspired films, including the Capital Region premier of local author and filmmaker Bryan Higby’s “Here There Be Tygers.” The 11‐minute film is a liberating tale from the viewpoint of a child who sees tigers in the school restroom that was filmed on the Hudson Valley campus in March 2019.

No advance tickets are needed to attend the Piscataway Nation Singers & Dancers performance or the Dollar Baby Festival. Both programs are free to the public and are presented by the college’s Cultural Affairs Program.