The newly named S’edav Va’aki Museum, formerly known as Pueblo Grande Museum, is celebrating Native American Heritage Month with a day of activities at its 5th Annual Portal to the Past Festival.

In partnership with Cultural Coalition, Inc., this free event goes from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 18 on the museum grounds at 4619 E. Washington St., in Phoenix.

The festival shines a light on Arizona’s indigenous water legacy with cultural performances, artist demonstrations, author and artist talks, and interactive activities that invite the whole family to experience Arizona’s rich cultural heritage.

New this year the S’edav Va’aki Museum will host a Toka Tournament, a traditional women’s game similar to field hockey and lacrosse played on a dirt field, from 10 a.m. to noon.

Several teams from the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community, the Gila River Indian Community and the Tohono O’Odham Nation will be playing in a round-robin format. The objective of the game is to hit the ola (the puck) with the usage (sticks made by the players) across an imaginary line or past a set of cones.

Following the match, festival attendees will be able to explore every corner of the Museum grounds with programs taking place inside, outside, and across the canal.

In addition to the festival’s artist demonstrations and cultural music and dance performances, also new this year the festival will feature guest speakers Thosh Collins and Chelsey Luger. Co-authors of “The Seven Circles (Indigenous Teachings for Living Well),” Thosh and Chelsey will talk about their book which centers practices for achieving spiritual, physical and emotional wellbeing rooted in Indigenous ancestral knowledge, followed by a book signing in the Museum store.

Visit the event page culturalcoalition.com/portalfest.

The Keli Akimel Gila River Traditional Singers perform at a previous gathering.

(Photo provided by Cultural Coalition)