A modified Family Play Space will be located in the museum lobby on Wednesday, November 4.

A man wearing a suit stands in a vast field of tall grass, with rolling hills and a cloudy sky in the background, captured in black and white.

Marshall McKay (1952-2021). Photography by Jeff Corwin

Conversations / Member Events

Marshall McKay Seminar for Empowering Native Knowledge | W. Richard West Jr.

Part of the series Inspired by the Galleries

Friday, November 13, 2026, 2–5:30 p.m. | Friday, November 13, 2026, 6–8 p.m. | Saturday, November 14, 2026, 9 a.m.–4 p.m.

Admission:
Free with registration
RSVP/Reservations:
RSVP to each session below

About the Seminar

Portrait of a man wearing a dark suit, white collared shirt, and a dark patterned tie.

The 2026 Marshall McKay Seminar for Empowering Native Knowledge will explore the life and work of Autry President and CEO Emeritus W. Richard West Jr. (Southern Cheyenne). West was the founding director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) for nearly two decades and served as president and CEO of the Autry for nearly nine years. Before becoming director of NMAI, West practiced law at the Native-owned law firm of Gover, Stetson, Williams & West, where he served as counsel to numerous Indian tribes and organizations.

West recently transferred his archives to the Autry for stewardship, and this year’s McKay Seminar will focus on what those records reveal about how West’s career as a lawyer and museum director reshaped Indian Country and museums in the United States and abroad. The two-day seminar will feature local, regional, national, and international experts in the field.

Friday, November 13: Seminar in the Autry Theater from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.

RSVP HERE >>

Can't attend in person? register for the Zoom livestream HERE>>

Friday, November 13: Reception in the Museum Lobby and Film Screening in Heritage Court from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

RSVP HERE >>

Saturday, November 14: Seminar at the Parks Research Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

RSVP HERE >>

Can't attend in person? Register for the Zoom livestream HERE>>

Marshall McKay Seminar Schedule

Friday, November 13: Seminar Day 1
Location:      Autry Museum of the American West Theater
                     4700 Western Heritage Way, Los Angeles, CA 90027

1:30 p.m.     Doors Open

2:00 p.m.     Welcome

                     Joe Horse Capture (Aaniiih), VP Native Collections & Engagement, 
                     Chief Curator, Ahmanson Curator of Native American History and Culture, 
                     Autry Museum of the American West  

2:15 p.m.     Indian Country

                     Library Presentation  

                     Lynn Valbuena, Chairwoman, Yuhaaviatam of San Manuel Nation  

                     Suzan Shown Harjo (Cheyenne and Mvskokvlke), President, The Morning 
                     Star Institute; Founding Trustee, National Museum of the American Indian;
                     Former Executive Director, National Congress of American Indians
                     (Live via Zoom)
   
                     Patsy Phillips (Cherokee), Director Emerita, 
                     IAIA Museum of Contemporary Native Arts

3:20 p.m.     International View

                     Library Presentation  

                     Amareswar Galla, Executive Director, 
                     International Institute for the Inclusive Museum  

                     Q & A  

4:30 p.m.     Museum Tour

6:00 p.m.     Refreshments and hearty hors d'oeuvres 

7:00 p.m.     Leadership Remarks

                     Film Screening and Q &A with Film Director Ben West

Saturday, November 14: Seminar Day 2
Location:      Chrystina and James R. Parks Research Center
                     210 South Victory Blvd, Burbank, CA 91502

8:30 a.m.      Doors open

9:00 a.m.      Breakfast

10:00 a.m.    Welcome

                     Stephen Aron, Calvin and Marilyn Gross Director and President and CEO, 
                     Autry Museum of the American West  
            

10:15 a.m.    Academic View

                      Library Presentation    

                      Janet Berlo, Professor Emerita, 
                      Visual and Cultural Studies at the Department of Art and Art History, 
                      University of Rochester, New York  

                      Q & A

11:00 a.m.    Break

11:10 a.m.    Law

                     Library Presentation  

                     Walter Echo-Hawk (Pawnee), Native American Rights Fund, 
                     Former President of the Pawnee Nation Business Council  
                     (Pre-recorded video)  

12:00 p.m.   Lunch 

1:00 p.m.     Washington, D.C.

                     Library Presentation  

                     Lonnie Bunch, Secretary of the Smithsonian, 
                     Founding Director of National Museum of African American History and
                     Culture                                 
                     (Pre-recorded video)  

                     Kevin Gover (Pawnee), Undersecretary for Museums and Culture at  
                     Smithsonian Institution
                     (Live via Zoom)

2:00 p.m.   Long View

                   Nancy Mithlo (Fort Sill Chiricahua Apache), Professor of Gender Studies and 
                   American Indian Studies, University of California, Los Angeles, and
                   Sasha Sherman

                   Gerald McMaster (Plains Cree), Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Visual 
                   Culture and Curatorial Practice, OCAD University

3:00 p.m.   Autry Museum of the American West

                  Stephen Aron, Calvin and Marilyn Gross Director and 
                  President and CEO, Autry Museum of the American West 
                   
4:00 p.m.   Seminar concludes 

The Marshall McKay Seminar for Empowering Native Knowledge is sponsored by:

Can't attend in person?

Friday, November 13 | 2 p.m. - 5:30 p.m.

Register Here

Saturday, November 14 | 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Register Here

Land Acknowledgment

The Autry Museum of the American West acknowledges the Gabrielino/Tongva peoples as the traditional land caretakers of Tovaangar (the Los Angeles basin and So. Channel Islands). We recognize that the Autry Museum and its campuses are located on the traditional lands of Gabrielino/Tongva peoples and we pay our respects to the Honuukvetam (Ancestors), ‘Ahiihirom (Elders) and ‘Eyoohiinkem (our relatives/relations) past, present and emerging.

Autry Museum of the American West

4700 Western Heritage Way
Los Angeles, CA 90027-1462
In Griffith Park across from the Los Angeles Zoo
Map and Directions

Free parking for Autry visitors


MUSEUM AND STORE HOURS
Tuesday⁠–⁠Friday 10:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Saturday–Sunday 10:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

DINING
Food trucks are available on select days, contact us for details at 323.495.4252.
The cafe is closed temporarily until further notice.