Join us on Saturday, March 2 at 11:30 AM for “Raven Steals the Sun: Tales of Eclipses in Native American Culture,” a captivating presentation filled with stories. Discover the beliefs, traditions, and customs of various Native American tribes concerning sun and eclipse phenomena.

Different tribes across North America interpret these solar occurrences in diverse ways – as signals, transformations, omens, sacred events, and celebrations. The ancient tales of the Cherokee, Navajo, Inuit, Haudenosaunee, and many other tribes have been passed down for generations and hold significant value in Native American culture today.

Perry Ground, a skilled storyteller, will animate these stories with vivid details and audience engagement. This program promises to be engaging, entertaining, and highly educational for listeners of all ages. 

Perry Ground, a Turtle Clan member of the Onondaga Nation within the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, has been a storyteller for more than 25 years, using stories to educate people about the culture, beliefs, and history of the Haudenosaunee. He has presented his stories at various museums, libraries, classrooms, and festivals across the northeast, and has also delivered guest lectures at numerous colleges. In the academic year 2021-22, he held the position of the Frederick H. Minett Professor at Rochester Institute of Technology.

Bernie Picklo, a former Earth and Space Science teacher at Bradford High School and former Educational Technology Specialist at Pitt-Bradford, will be sharing his enthusiasm for astronomy with the community on Thursday, March 7th at 6 PM. During the “Diving into the World of Solar Eclipses” event, he will delve into the historical and scientific facets of lunar and solar eclipses, focusing on events like the 2017 solar eclipse and the upcoming April eclipse. The presentation will incorporate visual aids such as images and videos delivered through PowerPoint.  Following each program, special solar eclipse viewing glasses will be available to attendees (one pair per household to ensure we have enough for all interested parties).