The N.C. Museum of History hosted the American Indian Heritage celebration Saturday.

The event consisted of exhibits, hands-on activities, documentary films, storytelling and demonstrations.

According to Emily Grant, facilitator for the event and youth and family program coordinator at the N.C Museum of History, the event was designed to broaden people’s thinking beyond movie stereotypes.

“It’s a much deeper, richer culture than that,” she said.

“[The purpose] was really to build awareness of the [American Indian] history and culture because people … didn’t know that Indians were still here.””

“There’s so many people that have started participating more in the community,” said Brett Locklear, assistant director for department of multicultural student affairs.

Locklear said he used to work in Indian affairs, and when the N.C. Museum of History first became involved in the heritage event, Locklear was one of the planners.

He said educating others on Indian heritage was one of his passions and the event has grown phenomenally over the years.

Among the exhibits at the event were American Indian pottery, carvings, crafts, tools and cooking. Participants could register to learn basics in the native language of Tutelo or mini-workshops in bead-working.

The most prominent of exhibits were the American Indian dances. Throughout the afternoon, dancers showcased the many styles of dance specific to the American Indian peoples.

Tony Clark, a member of North Carolina’s Lumbee tribe, was the emcee for the event and took time between dances to explain each one’s significance and history.

“I always like to … take these opportunities to break down stereotypes,” Clark said. His Indian name, Locha, means “turtle” in his native language.

When the heritage festival first began, it was a small two-hour evening event focusing on food ways, according to Grant.

“It’s grown [from] a ticketed event for 30 people and in 12 years … it’s an all-day event,” Grant said. “Now we serve over 7,000 people with this event.”

According to Grant, North Carolina has the largest American Indian population East of the Mississippi river, and the seventh largest native population of any state in the country.

Grant, while pleased with the progress of the event over the years, said she has plans for the future.

“We want to take it to the next level,” she said. “We’ve gotten a lot more specific and detailed about … individual aspects that make the tribes unique.”

Clark said he has been involved with the event in one way or another over the years, and it has grown to be larger than he could have imagined.

“I think it’s awesome, the fact that North Carolina wants to honor my people, the Native American people, by having this event,” Clark said.

According to Clark, the Lumbee tribe is “about 43,000 strong” and represents about half the native population in North Carolina.

“As the indigenous people of this land, I’m always impressed when I see us get ‘top billing,’ as the old saying goes, and really get represented well and be allowed to be represented well,” he said.

Clark said he always encourages people to come to the heritage celebration. He said he only asks them for one thing.

“Be open-minded and respect the ways of what we’re doing here. More so — understand them, remember them and tell about them,” he said.