Stewart Indian School open as part of Nevada Day festivities

Visitors coming to Carson City for the Nevada Day Parade and other activities are encouraged to visit the Stewart Indian School Cultural Center & Museum from 1-5 p.m. on Saturday.

The SISCC&M, set on the site of a former federal boarding school for Native American children, tells the story of the students and people who lived and worked at the facility, in operation from 1890 to 1980.

Stewart alumni also are asking their fellow alumni to bring in personal Stewart memorabilia and photos to the school to donate (or photos to be scanned). These items will be entered into the archive.

The SISCC&M’s administration is offering a reward for oldest item or photo. The prize is a copy of the book Assimilation, Resilience, and Survival: A History of the Stewart Indian School, 1890-1980 by Samantha Williams.

“Alumni, we are asking for your help to donate your Stewart memorabilia, copy your historical photos, and visit the museum,” said Linda Eben Jones, Northern Paiute, Stewart School Alumni-Class of 1966, and volunteer at the Cultural Center & Museum.

Visitors can experience the school with a few activities:

• The SISCC&M has static displays of Stewart’s 90-year history, as well as student art produced when the school was open, a storytelling room. The Research Room houses archival documents, photographs, and publications.

• The current exhibit in the Great Basin Native Artists Gallery is “Dancing for the Earth, Dancing for the People: Pow Wow Regalia and Art of the Great Basin,” a display of contemporary pow wow dance regalia, photography, mixed media sculpture, Great Basin beadwork, digital graphic design and more. This exhibition was curated by Melissa Melero-Moose (Fallon Paiute/Modoc), founder of Great Basin Native Artists Collective.

• Outside on the grounds, visitors can walk the 0.6 mile trail with a map and recorded audio tour connected via cell phone with recordings that describes the buildings and the history.

• There is also a rock scavenger hunt which allows visitors to explore the school’s buildings built in the 1920s by Stewart students and Hopi stonemasons. The hunt was designed by Jonathan Price, former state geologist.

The gift shop will also be open, selling unique items made by local Native artists. The store takes cash and checks only.