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DIRECTOR’S LETTER .............................


THE ART OF STORYTELLING A


s we enjoy the winter months, I often reflect upon how this time of year provides us with numerous opportunities to share the stories that reside


at the heart of the National Museum of the American Indian’s mission.


In November


alone, we honored our ancestors during Día de los Muertos (Day of the Dead), acknowledged our nation’s Native and non-Native veterans with special programs, offered educational activities about the history of Thanksgiving and celebrated Native American Heritage Day. From the final outdoor harvest celebrations to games that entertain us indoors during colder weather, our programs provide all ages with moments to learn something new. Our ability to share these vibrant histories


is made possible by our many partnerships with Native leaders, artists, scholars and mu- sicians. Every season that passes, NMAI staff and volunteers learn new ways to interpret Indigenous cultures. We thrive on engaging with our audiences through our music, dance, spoken word and theater programs. Similarly, we encourage dialogue through our gallery experiences, online education, scholarly pro- grams and efforts in collections care. The museum’s work as a forum for oth-


ers—and the remarkable education and responsibility that comes with it—dictates our ever-evolving story. For example, a few months ago I was reminded once again of the power of the written and spoken word. My wife and I attended the first official reading of U.S. Poet Laureate Joy Harjo (Muscogee Creek) with an excited audience of hundreds of her fans and friends. Well beyond a typical poetry “reading,” Harjo combined her perfor- mance with song and saxophone music. The experience was a transformative moment for me and many others. Amid her busy schedule, Harjo graciously


took time to open one of our fall symposia with her poetry and discuss her writing, music and other pursuits (see her profile on pages 22–25). Similarly, many of the artists and scholars with whom we work are engaged in many avenues at the same time. In this is- sue, we examine the explorative writing and


6 AMERICAN INDIAN WINTER 2019


Left to right: NMAI Director Kevin Gover, Congresswoman Debra Haaland, D.-N.M. (Pueblo of Laguna) and William Lomax (Gitxsan), chair of the museum’s Board of Trustees at the groundbreaking ceremony for the National Native American Veterans Memorial, September 21, 2019, in Washington, D.C.


illustrations of award-winning Native authors and artists within the sci-fi and fantasy genres as well as a graphic novel. While these diverse types of storytelling have existed for some time, Native people are writing and sketching themselves—and little-known Indigenous ex- periences—into the narrative at a rapid pace (see pages 8–13 and 14–21). Our exhibition “Ancestral Connections,”


on view now in the Charles and Valerie Diker Pavilion at NMAI in New York, offers a similar glimpse into deeply personal and often unfa- miliar histories. Through the lens of select ob- jects from the museum’s stunning collection of contemporary art, artists comment on their


motivations for creating works that tie to their Native heritage (see pages 32–39). As we enter a new decade, I take great


pride in being part of this uniquely diversified chapter of the museum’s history. For example, we are exploring new ways to engage teachers and students as well as offer art and scholar- ship online. We will also offer a new slate of exhibitions, programs and special events, culminating in next fall’s dedication of the National Native American Veterans Memo- rial. I invite you to join us in person or online at AmericanIndian.si.edu.X


Kevin Gover (Pawnee) is director of the National Museum of the American Indian.


PAUL MORIGI/AP IMAGES FOR SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN


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