Native American Heritage Month is celebrated each November to provide a platform for Native people in the United States to share their culture, traditions, music, crafts, dance, and ways and concepts of life. As part of this reminder to study the history of the nation and highlight the great diversity Native people have brought for centuries prior to arrival of European explorers through the present day, Asheville Parks & Recreation will present a free indoor viewing of Te Ata on Burton Street Community Center’s big screen at 6:30 p.m. on Thursday, November 10.
Te Ata (TAY’ AH-TAH) is based on the inspiring true story of Mary Thompson Fisher (best known as Te Ata), a woman who traversed cultural barriers to become one of the greatest Native American performers of all time. Despite the attempts of government officials to fully assimilate Native people into “mainstream” society, many Native American artists remained committed to the preservation of their traditional songs, dance, and oral traditions and art. Born in Indian Territory, and raised on the songs and stories of her Chickasaw culture, Te Ata’s journey to find her true calling led her through isolation, discovery, love and a stage career that culminated in performances for a U.S. president, European royalty, and audiences across the world. Yet of all the stories she shared, none are more inspiring than her own.
Te Ata stars Q’orianka Kilcher, Gil Birmingham, Brigid Brannagh, Mackenzie Astin, and Graham Greene. It is rated PG for a brief violent image and some thematic elements. The film has been approved by The Dove Family Foundation for family viewing.
Current-day Asheville occupies the land of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians (ECBI). During its October 11 meeting, Asheville City Council read a proclamation declaring support for the efforts of the Tribal Council of the ECBI to restore the name Kuwohi to the mountain presently known as Clingman’s Dome.
Burton Street Community Center is located on 134 Burton St. in west Asheville. Parking is limited, so guests are encouraged to carpool or walk, skate, or ride bikes.
Asheville Parks & Recreation
Established in 1956, Asheville Parks & Recreation manages a unique collection of more than 65 public parks, playgrounds, and open spaces throughout the city in a system that also includes full-complex recreation centers, swimming pools, Riverside Cemetery, sports fields and courts, and community centers that offer a variety of wellness-, education-, and culture-related programs for Ashevillians of all ages. With 10 miles of paved greenways and numerous natural surface trails, its complete portfolio acts as the foundation of a vibrant hub for the people of Asheville to connect with their neighbors and explore the natural beauty of a livable and walkable city.
Driven by the promise that Asheville is a better and safer place when everyone from infants to retirees has the opportunity to be supported, healthy, and successful, Asheville Parks & Recreation was the first nationally-accredited municipal recreation department in the United States. For the latest updates, follow the department on Facebook @aprca and Instagram @ashevilleparksandrecreation or visit www.ashevillenc.gov/parks.