NMAI-BLOG

GETTING EDUCATED

Wed, 5 Aug 2009 20:38:33 -0400

I am now at the end of my internship at during a going away lunch I was asked a very standard question. “What was your favorite part of your internship?” My reply was swift and immediate. “I realized how truly ignorant I was about American Indians.” I think this startled a few people, but this was of no concern to me.
I suffer from geo-specific knowledge. I know many things about nations that come from the Sahaptian language group, one of the oldest language stocks in North America. This is simply a part of who I am. Once I moved from Idaho to Seattle, I focused on scholastic endeavors pertaining to nations in that area. I, for whatever reason, felt that this afforded me a wide spectrum of understanding. I was wrong.
Yet, this is the beauty of seeking knowledge for its intrinsic value. Working in the Office of Education at NMAI has opened my eyes to numerous issues that nations currently face because of their geography. Every nation has a different story, a distinct culture, and wisdom to share with the world. I heard of nations that had not once crossed in front of my eyes, nor parted from my lips. My spectrum has widened as a result of my internship. Ignorance is now replaced with understanding.

.::LIFE DOTS::.

Mon, 3 Aug 2009 07:46:49 -0400

We all have them. Grasping hold of them can be the hard part. I think we all get glimmers of what it feels when they are most visible to us. Last week while working with Nimiipuu, or Nez Perce, material culture these dots felt present.
I was born and raised on the reservation and part of my family goes back to that land for time immemorial, the other since the late 19th century. I grew up going to tribal Head Start and attending Lookinglass Days annually. I now study Transnational History and Native American Genocide at Clark University, specifically focusing on the resistance of the Nimmipuu nation against external forces. Even though I am an intern in the Education Department at NMAI, the power of working with this material culture connects me to many generations back, elucidating the importance of conservation for future generations. This connection to the past affords me a very still space to connect the dots in my life in the frenetic pace of Washington, D.C.

ARTISTIC REPRIEVE

Tue, 28 Jul 2009 08:08:23 -0400

Sometimes life gives you a reprieve when you least expect it. Sue, who handles family programming at the museum asked me to photograph all of the weaving materials that she had so that she could one day create a manual for all of the various activities. I jumped at the chance to leave my desk and get to do some photography.
We ran down to the Cafe to borrow a white apron for our drop cloth (you have to improvise!). I snapped for 2 hours straight which was a delight for me. The other, more interesting aspect was the actual work itself. The connection between culture and everyday tools are intertwined in indigenous cultures. This sharp contrast to modern society where we often feel so disconnected even from our own experiences makes me wonder if we have not missed the mark entirely.

TECH MEETS HEART

Wed, 24 Jun 2009 07:57:38 -0400

It might seem like a contradiction, but my internship has certainly taught me that this is not always the case. One of the less exciting things that I am doing here is building a database to catalog oral history from the many nations that the museum had visited in the past. The actual building of database was all very technical and quite boring. I rushed through it as fast as I could. Once I was done with the technical side, I was able to see the humanity.
I spent hours pouring over transcriptions from six tapes from the Yakama Nation. This was very exciting for me because the Yakama are not far from where I grew up and they are in the same linguistic stock (Sahaptian) as the Nez Perce. I combed over ever page looking for 30 various categories I was striving to capture. You start to understand and build a bond with their stories-- and ultimately their heart.

THIS IS WHY

Thu, 18 Jun 2009 20:49:22 -0400

After creating the database that will catalogue all of the oral testimony that is currently housed at NMAI, I worked on a report that will support an educational initiative that will launch in 2012. It will be interesting because we are focusing on human agency in this project. I finally finished the preliminary report that now is 11 pages. This is something that will be addressed in an upcoming exhibit on treaties that will also launch in 2012. Kevin Gover, the director of NMAI gave us a first-hand preview of his thoughts about the narrative. I was very impressed and look forward to the final product. You study and read about numerous things, but I have found that all of this hard work is really paying off. All of my knowledge about treaties and being fortunate enough to grow up on the reservation has come to my aid in working at NMAI. On Wednesday a young group of Hopi kids came to visit the CRC (Community Resource Center) to explore the numerous objects and material culture that the NMAI has in its collection. We all had a great potluck and then we were treated to a song that was all in traditional Hopi language. It became clear to me why I love working in this area. The assertion of traditional language and culture is vital to all--especially those that were subject to such trauma and shame. To witness and share this moment was truly a blessing.

CONNECTIONS

Mon, 8 Jun 2009 19:52:17 -0400

I spent the majority of my morning getting my Smithsonian ID and getting acclimated to the NAMI instituion. I was able to take a quick tour of the museum and eat a great lunch. We took the metro over to the CRC (cultural resource center) and from there my entire day and energy changed. They have a huge statue of Chief Joseph there in front of the building. What was inside blew me away. They had linear feet of bead work, saddles, dolls, regalia- of numerous tribes, but it was the Nez Perce materials that moved me to my core. It affords a connection to my home, a time when life was seemingly innocent. It was before I was confronted with the very real concept that the kids I grew up with and went to school with had been given shame, while I was given an education. Looking at these pieces took me right back to that feeling, but this time the resolve has changed. The reason why I must continue on is clear- to educate.