North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission

06/12/2026

Calling all NC musicians! The Come Hear NC Music Office and the NC Arts Council are gearing up to celebrate Make Music Day 2026 across the state on June 21st. Make Music Day’s a global celebration of everyday music making, started in France in 1982 – and every year we post North Carolinians playing music together on our social feeds. So on June 21st, film yourself playing (alone or with friends), tag and use the hashtag . We’ll make sure you’re video gets shared as part of the official celebration of Make Music Day!

PS – if you’d like to prerecord a vid and send it to us early, nothing’s stopping you from doing that today...

.dncr

06/12/2026

We’re thrilled to announce that Rissi Palmer will be a featured artist for Capitol 250: North Carolina Freedom Fest!

A true trailblazer in country and Americana music, Rissi has been breaking barriers since her 2007 hit “Country Girl” made her the first Black female country artist in nearly two decades to chart on Billboard’s Hot Country Singles.

Since then, she’s released award‑winning music, earned national acclaim, and used her platform to champion artists of color through Color Me Country Radio and the Color Me Country Artist Grant Fund.
Her influence spans music, advocacy, and storytelling, including performances at the White House and the Grand Ole Opry, to features on PBS, Forbes, Rolling Stone, and Billboard. Most recently, she received the ACM Lift Every Voice Award for her leadership in amplifying underrepresented voices.

Join us as we celebrate Rissi Palmer’s powerful artistry and her ongoing impact as one of American music's most beloved musicians.

📅 Event: Capitol 250: North Carolina Freedom Fest
📍 Location: North Carolina State Capitol
Come for the history, stay for the music. You won’t want to miss this!

Learn more at America250.nc.gov/FreedomFest

06/12/2026

Last week, staff from the North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission visited the Lumbee River Archaeology Project in Robeson County to learn more about ongoing archaeological research led by Dr. Seth Grooms, a Lumbee citizen and professor of anthropology at Appalachian State University.

The project explores the deep history of Native communities along the Lumbee River through a collaborative approach that brings together archaeology, oral tradition, community knowledge, and historical research. The project helps advance a broader understanding of Indigenous history in southeastern North Carolina while centering Lumbee perspectives and community knowledge.

During the visit, AIHC staff, Oral History Project Assistant Mikayah Locklear, and Summer Intern Kaylee Evans toured active field sites, observed archaeological methods in practice, and discussed the importance of community-centered approaches to preserving and interpreting Native history.

We extend our thanks to Dr. Grooms and the project team for sharing their work and helping strengthen our understanding of North Carolina's Indigenous past, present, and future.

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

05/19/2026

05/11/2026

05/11/2026

Happy Mother's Day from Museum of the Cherokee People 🌼

📸: "A group, four children and a mother with a baby on her back," n.d. Frank G. Speck (1881-1950). Penn Museum at the University of Pennsylvania, 357139.

05/11/2026

05/07/2026

🌟 Workforce Wednesday 🌟

Dreaming of a career where you can help preserve, protect, and promote North Carolina’s natural and cultural treasures? DNCR has several opportunities open now!

This week’s featured positions:

🔹Conservation Real Property Agent – Division of Land and Water Stewardship📍Wake Co. – Closes May 11

🔹 Historical Interpreter II– Brunswick Town/Fort Anderson State Historic Site 📍Brunswick Co. – Closes May 12

🔹 Carpenter– Tryon Palace📍Craven Co. – Closes May 12

🔹 Controller – Tryon Palace📍Craven Co. – Closes May 13

🔹Associate Director – North Carolina American Indian Heritage Commission📍Wake Co. – Closes May 14

🔹Executive Director – Roanoke Island Festival Park📍Dare Co. – Closes May 15

🔹Architectural Survey Specialist – State Historic Preservation Office, Division of Historical Resources 📍Wake Co. – Closes May 19

🔗 View and apply for these roles at the link in the comments below. ⬇️

Join our team and help shape North Carolina’s story for generations to come!

Please note: Positions may close before you see this post, but they remain open until their stated deadline.