Author talks and bird walks, mining tall tales and geology deep dives, local history and desert mystery … whatever you like, we’ve likely got it!
We’re proud of our unique area and colorful history, and educating visitors is a big part of our mission. To that end, the Shoshone Museum hosts a variety of scheduled talks and events, running from autumn through spring (generally October to April). All events are live and in-person; regrettably, we aren’t able to record or stream our talks at this time.
Talks are always free – and donations are always appreciated!
Matthew Hanks Leivas (Chemehuevi) is the hereditary chief of the Chemehuevi people living along the Colorado River. He is a former tribal councilman, game warden, and director of the tribe’s Cultural Center. Leivas attended Sherman Institute and served in the Marine Corps. He is the foremost Salt Song Singer, a Native American Land Conservancy board member, and a national leader in cultural preservation. Leivas and his family speak Chemehuevi and share their language and knowledge with others. Most recently Matthew participated in the Summer Salon Series from Friends of the Amargosa.
At 67, Leivas is a respected Chemehuevi elder, Salt Song singer, tribal scholar and environmental activist. His intensely compassionate eyes, warm presence and wry sense of humor (an endearing trait shared by many Chemehuevi) are particularly disarming. However, his detailed and comprehensive knowledge of his people’s history, culture and the landscape they inhabit—along with the varied, complex issues affecting contemporary Chemehuevi people—is most impressive.