November 2022 was our nation’s Native American Heritage Month, and on Nov. 11 a group from Unity Church of Sun Lakes, Unity Explores, celebrated a Veterans Day tribute at the Heard Museum honoring Native Americans who have served in the military. The courtyard was lined with artists who displayed their many crafts, many wearing their colorful costumes, some who set up their easels and painted as we watched. There were dancers, musicians, speakers, and a military color guard. We were given a tour of the museum by two volunteer guides, both of whom were descendants of one of the 22 federally recognized tribes located in Arizona and who were happy to share their history and the beauty of the museum’s collections. After our tour, our group had a nutritious and delicious lunch at the Courtyard Cafe’. We Explorers were blessed with a greater understanding and appreciation of these creative indigenous peoples.

The Heard Museum was founded in 1929. The museum focuses on the advancement of indigenous people’s art, both traditional and contemporary. The museum also has an outdoor section with water features, sculptures, and an amphitheater.