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Posted: November 16th, 2009 Ayofemi Kirby

On Saturday, the beat of drums, singing and dancing filled the oft-quiet halls of the Charlotte Museum of History.

In honor of American Indian Heritage month, the museum opened its doors for Charlotte’s first American Indian Celebration.

Native American performers and storytellers wore costumes adorned with feathers, precious stones and vibrant colors, while attendees of all ages wore jewelry, hairpieces and clothing influenced by Native American traditions.

The day brought visitors from around the state to celebrate the culture of the country’s indigenous people.

“It’s important to celebrate Indian Heritage month in North Carolina,” said Ronda Jones Hughes who traveled from Robeson County for the event.

Hughes is the CEO of Red Path Child and Family Agency and a member of the Lumbee tribe. Her organization encourages Native American families to become foster parents.

“More than half of foster children in Robeson County are Native American,” she said.

Organizers of Saturday’s celebration hoped participants would gain a greater sense of awareness about North Carolina’s Native American community and leave wanting to learn more.

“If you look at the origins of Charlotte, the Catawba land was formed at the trade crossroads and that started with American Indians,” said William Lowry, lead organizer for the event. “But that’s not always how it is told.”

The idea for the day’s celebration developed from a series of community conversations around “We Shall Remain,” a multimedia television series on Native American history that aired on PBS.

“By being here, we hope everyone gets an accurate picture of our culture and our history,” Lowry said. “And we hope that they leave with a desire to learn and to tell the entire story. “

Click here for more photos .

Watch video of dancers from the event below.

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