Today: Wungnema celebrates Native American Heritage Month

November is National Native American Heritage Month. In recognition of that, the Foundation for Carson City Parks & Recreation, is hosting an open house and exhibit of selected examples of two- and three-dimensional Native American art at the historic Wungnema House in Mills Park, from 5 to 7 p.m. on Friday. The art, from a local collection, represents a broad spectrum of different tribal or cultural traditions, including Northwest Coast (Kwakiutl), Puebloan (Hopi), Central California (Miwok), Eastern Woodlands (Iroquoian), Inuit (Eskimo), Northern Plains (Cree), Panamanian (Kuna), and Upper Great Lakes (Anishinaabe). Admission to the event is free.

The house was built in 1948 by a family of Hopi stonemasons, the Wungnemas, and served as their home until the early 1970s. Notable, in addition to the house’s exterior masonry, is the inclusion of a family member’s clan symbol in the rock fireplace. The Wungnema’s distinctive masonry survives in many homes and other structures in Carson City, and is also found in homes, churches, ranches, and other structures at Lake Tahoe, Washoe Valley, and Reno.

Access to the house is from the Seely Loop, the east entrance for Mills Park, off North Saliman Road, opposite Carson High School.

FCCPR is a private, non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The mission of FCCPR is to provide an umbrella under which various organizations and citizens can come together to explore innovative ways to promote and facilitate their activities. It assists organizations with similar goals to promote and meet foundation objectives by acting in a fiduciary capacity to help manage and protect monies raised by members for their various stated projects.

FCCPR welcomes new members and is interested in individuals who can assist with fundraising, newsletter, publicity, special events, recruitment, and park clean up. Basic annual membership is $25, and higher categories of membership are encouraged. For further information, call David Bugli at 775-883-4154 or visit the website http://CarsonCityParks.org.