MY VISIT TO THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN IN D.C.

Last week I visited the museum on an overcast and windy chilly day. My brother, Mom and I went through all 4 floors. The building was designed by a Blackfoot Indian with many coonsultants. The interior is of a limestone and the building is aligned to the cardinal directions. There are about 800,000 works of cultural and historical and spiritual significance. The building was built in the shape of around winding cylindar with an open court in the center. On the forth floor we spoke to an interpretor who told us about how several prism of light were placed in a window so that they presented a variety of rainbows on the interior walls. She also showed us about 4 rock types that were used in the construction of the building. One was a greyish granite wthat came from a northern state.

The most interesting thing I remember was the Lelawi Theater which reminded me of being in an underground kiva. There was a short video on various tribes throughout the Americas - it showed people making baskets, fishing for salmon and other fish, hunting, dancing, food preparation and having various dances for celebrations. The show was in a dark room - there were images on a big plastic rock in the center of the room, on the ceiling, on the screen and artifacts and pieces of art lit up when the tribes were discussed.

A most interesting bronze sculpture (bigger than life size) depicted an Indian and his wife with George Washington, including a bear, a turtle, a wolf, and a small girl holding a doll. It wasade by an Oneida Indian - Edward Hiavka in 2004. My brother and I later discussed that this artist was related to someone who we knew from Wisconsin of this tribe - he had an Indian geneologist research his ancestors back to the 1700's or so.

One interesting display discussed that the English brought tobacco to the the Indians on the East Coast and that changed the world both healthwise and economy wise. However, the North Coast Indians and others in the west had been using native tobacco (Nicotiana bigelovii) for millenia before the Spanish or English came here. This same display discussed how corn was brought across from Europe and that changed the world by having so many Eastern Indians eating and planting corn. Of course the earliest corn remains were in Mesoamerica dating over 10,000 years ago. And these cobs were only about 4 - 5" long - they were hybridized with other species.

The museum had a many wooden art pieces from the Kwakiutl tribe and they discussed some of their animal spirits, mythology, and artists. This wooden work attracts me. I also enjoy looking at the plains Indian beadwork on leather skins and moccasins.

We ate a light snack at the cafe that served a variety of Native American foods. We shared a mixed bean and corn salad, an interesting type of rice similar to saffron rice, and fry bread. I expected more of a variety of Indian foods. Nevertheless it was all a good experience.