Indigenous Peoples’ Day Celebration 2026 with Yellow Bird Productions
Internationally renowned Yellow Bird Productions specialize in cultural presentations that celebrate the unique spirit of the American Indian. For the past 30 years, Yellow Bird Productions has curated a unique repertoire of songs, dances, stories and dialogue that entertain and educate audiences of all ages. This program is multi-faceted and will include:
- 3:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m. | Storyteller and flute player Ken Duncan
Ken Duncan Sr. will provide a repertoire of stories representative of Native American culture including stories from the Southwest and specifically stores from the Apache culture. Ken will also play selected melodies on a traditional Apache flute. - 4:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Presentation regarding The Healing Dance with Doreen Duncan
Doreen Duncan will outline the significance of two Apache dances. The Apache Rainbow Dance is done to give thanks for the gift of water from the Creator after the rain has fallen. The Apache Bow and Arrow Dance is derived from a ceremony by Apache mothers, daughters, and grandmothers of warriors who ask for the protection and safe return of the warriors to rejoin their Circle of Life. This dance is still necessary to honor current American military and veterans. - 4:30 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. | Champion hoop dancer Talon Duncan
Talon Ree Duncan will create images from his environment, including an eagle, butterfly, turtle, clouds and a desert flower. The fast, exciting and colorful presentation will include interpretation of the significance of the dance and a land acknowledgement. - 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. | Reception in the Courtyard Sculpture Garden with food and beverages
Program Info:
Monday, October 12, 2026
3:00 – 6:00 p.m.
$10 Museum Members
$15 General Program Admission
We are honored to welcome Indigenous Elders with FREE program admission. Please email wweber@westernspirit.org to receive your registration code to use at checkout.
Programs and times are subject to change.
About Yellow Bird Productions
- Ken Duncan
Ken is an enrolled member of the San Carlos Apache Tribe, an accomplished cultural teacher, singer, flute player, artist, and storyteller. Ken has lectured on American Indian cultures across the Unites States and throughout the world including the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and The Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian in New York and Washington, D.C. Ken served as a Native American consultant to the US State Department and the Department of Defense on numerus foreign goodwill tours. Ken and Yellow Bird Productions were named Culture Keepers of Arizona by Arizona’s Governor’s office in 2004. Ken was also recognized with the Arizona Native American Business of the Year Award in 2015.
- Doreen Duncan
Doreen is a member of the Mandan, Hidatsa, and Arikara Nations of North Dakota. She is a matriarch, mother of eight and grandmother of eight, past Tribal Museum Director, educator, entrepreneur and ambassador of Native American culture. She is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts and received a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Education from Arizona State University. Doreen served as the Museum Director of the Huhugam Ki Museum for the Salt River Pima Maricopa Indian Community for 10 years and was employed at the Heard Museum in Educational Programs.
- Talon Duncan
Talon is an enrolled member of the Mandan, Hidatsa and Arikara Nations of North Dakota in addition to being an Apache. His Arikara name is Lighting Crow Dancer. Talon is a champion hoop dancer and is well known in the Native American hoop dance world, winning championships in competitions in Sante Fe, Salt Lake City and at the Heard Museum in Phoenix.