Fiske Planetarium at the University of Colorado at Boulder will present a series of programs focused on American Indian tribes and the sky beginning Thursday, Nov. 7, through Tuesday, Nov. 12.
The programs, which will be in the planetarium, celebrate the relationship three American Indian communities have with the sky. The planetarium will host six shows, including four live presentations.
"Spirits from the Sky: Thunder on the Land" will kick off the event at Fiske Planetarium on Thursday, Nov. 7, at 7:30 p.m., and will be repeated on Monday, Nov. 11, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children and seniors and are available at the planetarium box office.
The show, produced in collaboration with the Pawnee Nation, encompasses two years of research and bridges science, history and anthropology to tell the story of the Skidi Band of Pawnee and their enduring relationship with the sky. With an introduction written and narrated by Pulitzer Prize winner N. Scott Momeday, the presentation draws on both archival sources and the personal recollections of Pawnee elders.
CU-Boulder Professor John Stocke will explore Navajo star and constellation myths, including the story of the creation of stars, during his live show "Navajo Skies," on Friday, Nov. 8, at 7:30 p.m. and again on Tuesday, Nov. 12, at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $4 for adults and $3 for children and seniors and are available at the planetarium box office.
Stocke's presentation examines ancient and modern astronomical knowledge in the Four Corners region and explores the Navajo star constellations and their relationship to the Navajo creation story. The presentation is based on research done by Stocke in collaboration with traditional Navajo singers and the Navajo Cultural Center in Tsaile, Ariz.
"Watchers of the Ancient Skies," a live show featuring Lakota storytellers, will be presented on Saturday, Nov. 9, at 7:30 p.m. and again on Sunday, Nov. 10, at 4 p.m. Tickets are $25 for adults and $10 for students. Tickets are available through Nov. 6 from the Center For Lifelong Learning at (303) 499-1125, ext. 230. Beginning Nov. 7 they will be available at the planetarium box office.
During the show, Lakota people share their traditions of the stars as they describe ancient knowledge that has been handed down through many generations. The show will include a Lakota singing and drumming group demonstrating the heartbeat of the earth and the universe during a live performance in the planetarium.
Fiske Planetarium is located at Regent Drive and Kittredge Loop Drive on the CU-Boulder campus. For more information on upcoming shows or other programs call (303) 492-5001 or visit the planetarium's Web site:Ìý .