Museum of the American Revolution Announces New Native American Interpretive Program Sponsored by Comcast NBCUniversal

The Museum of the American Revolution today announced the launch of a new Native American Interpretive Program, funded by a grant from Comcast NBCUniversal. The program is part of the Museum’s ongoing initiative to cultivate and support a more diverse community of people engaged in museum education and interpretation, which also includes its African American Interpretive Program launched in 2021.

The Native American Interpretive Program (NAIP) will significantly expand the Museum’s capacity to research, develop, and deliver programs and resources about Native American experiences in the Revolution, to nurture and expand community relationships, and to facilitate public discussions of current events using deep historical context. A key element of the program is the formation of an NAIP Advisory Council which will provide guidance to the Museum and ensure a broad representation of input from indigenous communities.

Kody Grant of the Isleta Pueblo/Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians has nearly 20 years of experience in cultural education and museum interpretation, including with the Oconaluftee Indian Village in Cherokee, North Carolina, and Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia. He now serves as the inaugural Tribal Liaison for the University of Virginia.

Belinda Patterson of the Tuscarora White Bear Clan has worked as a Native interpreter and educator at Old Fort Niagara in Youngstown, New York, for almost 10 years, where she developed the Native Interpretation Department. She now independently conducts education and outreach programs and serves on the board of trustees for Caeser's Ford Theatre in Xenia, Ohio.

Jeremy Johnson is the Cultural Education Director of the Delaware Tribe of Indians, based in Bartlesville, Oklahoma. Before his current role, he served as the tribe's assistant chief.  He is committed to preserving and revitalizing Lenape culture and language for the future generations of his tribe.

“We are thrilled to launch this program and consult these great partners in our continued efforts to present the most accurate and nuanced interpretation of our nation’s founding through our galleries, programming, and scholarship,” said Dr. R. Scott Stephenson, President and CEO of the Museum. “We are incredibly grateful to Comcast NBCUniversal for supporting this program which will allow the Museum to share more stories of the experiences and influence of indigenous people with our visitors and the world.”

Comcast NBCUniversal’s support of this new program mirrors existing support of the Museum’s mission, including as the founding sponsor of the African American Interpretive Program, which elevates Black stories of the Revolutionary era.

“We are honored to continue our support of the Museum in its launch of the new Native American Interpretive Program,” said Dalila Wilson-Scott, Executive Vice President and Chief Diversity Officer, Comcast Corporation & President, Comcast NBCUniversal Foundation. “This initiative is so important to celebrating and telling the rich history and stories of Native American communities, and we’re proud to be a partner in that work.”

The Native American Interpretive Program is an exciting expansion of the Museum’s existing mission and work to tell complex and diverse stories of the American Revolution. Its future impact will include additional programming through 2026, both during Native American Heritage Month in November and throughout the year. The Museum’s Living History Youth Summer Institute will also be expanded to more fully address stories of people of indigenous ancestry from the Revolutionary era. This six-week residency program prompts high school and college students to learn key principles and practices in historical interpretation.

“Weaving this work into our overall approach to education, which emphasizes both the use of historical thinking skills and the practice of historical empathy, will allow us powerful opportunities to consider the past, present, and future of Native American life as a part of the ongoing American experiment,” said Adrienne Whaley, Director of Education and Community Engagement for the Museum.

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About Museum of the American Revolution

The Museum of the American Revolution uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government. Through the Museum’s unmatched collection, immersive galleries, powerful theater experiences, and interactive elements, visitors gain a deeper appreciation for how this nation came to be and feel inspired to consider their role in ensuring that the promise of the American Revolution endures. Located just steps away from Independence Hall, the Museum serves as a portal to the region’s many Revolutionary sites, sparking interest, providing context, and encouraging exploration. The Museum, which opened on April 19, 2017, is an independent, non-profit, and non-partisan organization. For more information, visit www.AmRevMuseum.org or call 877.740.1776.