The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian announced that it will host a special concert event called "Mother Earth" Saturday, July 7 from 10:30 a.m. to 10:30 p.m., with musical performances and speakers from the scientific and American Indian cultural communities in the spirit of the Live Earth message. Live Earth is a 24-hour, seven-continent concert series that will bring together more than 100 music artists to raise awareness of the solutions for climate change.


Former U.S. Vice President Al Gore, who is chair of the Alliance for Climate Protection and partner of Live Earth, is among the speakers who will deliver remarks about climate change during the welcoming ceremony at 10:30 a.m. Performances by country music artists Garth Brooks and Trisha Yearwood and original and classic blues band Blues Nation follow immediately afterward. As part of this environmental message, the museum will make the broadcast of "Mother Earth" available to Live Earth for worldwide broadcast.


"As a museum of living cultures, the National Museum of the American Indian is pleased to host 'Mother Earth,'" said Tim Johnson (Mohawk), acting director of the museum. "'Mother Earth' is part of the museum's commitment to raising awareness of sustainable living and elevating the understanding of global climate change through innovative educational and cultural programs."


"Mother Earth" -- 12 hours of concerts, speakers and film -- is free and open to the public. The event will take place outdoors at the National Museum of the American Indian's Welcome Plaza (Fourth Street and Independence Avenue S.W., facing the U.S. Capitol). The full-day event will feature films; guest speakers; and Native American rock, funk, punk, reggae, gospel and Andean music, with a finale by Blues Nation at 9:30 p.m.


The schedule is subject to change. For updates, visit the museum's Web site at http://www.americanindian.si.edu/motherearth/.


The broadcast portion of "Mother Earth" is being produced by Herring Media Group Inc. of Connecticut. HMG Chairman and CEO Marc Herring said, "It is an honor and privilege to work with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and collaborate with Live Earth to present this important program and celebrate a new era of ecology awareness."