LACONIA — The Laconia Historical & Museum Society invites the community to a special program on Laconia’s Native American history as a part of a year-long celebration.
This program features Brenda “Birdie” Nanina Awabejiwani Jordan-Turner, who graduated from Laconia High School in 1968. Beginning in 1989, Jordan-Turner spent more than a decade researching her family history, deepening her understanding of her heritage. Through conversations with her grandmother, Jordan-Turner discovered her Flint-Mohawk roots on her maternal side and Abenaki ancestry on her paternal side.
Jordan-Turner’s journey was shaped in part by the challenges her children faced, leading her to more fully embrace her Mohawk identity and uncover shared ancestry within her community. Today, she continues to share her story and cultural knowledge with others.
The program will also include a simple hands-on craft for children, along with opportunities to explore cultural artifacts and connect with Native traditions. Guests are invited to an engaging and interactive afternoon featuring personal storytelling, traditional teachings, and a special turtle story.
This program will be on Sunday, May 17, at 11 a.m. at The Archives at 65 Water St. This free program is open to the public as part of the Laconia Historical & Museum Society’s Our Yesterdays 2026 Presentation Series.
(0) comments
Welcome to the discussion.
Log In
Keep it Clean. Please avoid obscene, vulgar, lewd, racist or sexually-oriented language.
PLEASE TURN OFF YOUR CAPS LOCK.
Don't Threaten. Threats of harming another person will not be tolerated.
Be Truthful. Don't knowingly lie about anyone or anything.
Be Nice. No racism, sexism or any sort of -ism that is degrading to another person.
Be Proactive. Use the 'Report' link on each comment to let us know of abusive posts.
Share with Us. We'd love to hear eyewitness accounts, the history behind an article.