Visitors of Memorial Art Gallery learn about Native American culture on Sunday

ROCHESTER, N.Y. — Representation matters. That was the message behind this year’s Native American Heritage Celebration Day at the Memorial Art Gallery on Sunday.

Visitors to the celebration got to experience several different aspects of Native American cultures, including traditional dances, storytelling, and wampum belt and deer parts displays.

Organizers talked to News10NBC about why this celebration was needed.

“This land was occupied before everyone else arrived and so it’s important to know who were the people? And people should know that history, who was here, learn something about them and that we’re still here,” said Jeanette Jemison, program director of Friends of Ganondagan.

Sunday’s event was part of the MAG’s celebration series, an effort to teach the Rochester community about specific cultures and communities.