Johnson Kidd, at the invitation of former U.S. Rep. Barber Conable, a member of the Heye museum’s Board of Trustees. Accompanying Senator Inouye were the
100
YEARS AND COUNTING
‘‘HAVING EXPERIENCED THE CHALLENGING DAYS OF ITS INCEPTION, AS WELL AS ITS SUBSEQUENT GROWTH AND EVOLUTION, THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF THE AMERICAN INDIAN HAS EXPANDED EXPONENTIALLY UPON THE VISION OF WHAT A MUSEUM’S COLLECTION COULD BECOME.’’
Secretary of the Smithsonian Institution, Rob- ert McCormack Adams, the Senate Commit- tee’s senior staff, Alan Parker (staff director) and myself (Patricia Zell, general counsel). The meeting followed a tour, the day before, of the museum’s principal museum as well as its storage facility that housed the greater percentage of the museum’s collections. As we were to learn, for many years, the
museum’s Board had been forced to cast a broad geographical net in its quest to secure the resources that would enable the mu- seum’s collections to be maintained under appropriate curatorial care and to address the significant need for repair of both of the museum’s facilities. Thus began a discussion which eventually
led to the 1989 enactment of Federal legisla- tion authorizing the establishment of a muse- um in the Old United States Custom House as a permanent presence for the Heye museum’s collection in the City and State of New York, as well as the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI) within the Smithsonian Institution in Wash- ington, D.C. to serve as the new principal home for the Heye museum’s collection within a newly-constructed museum on the National Mall and a curational facility in Suitland, Md. – NMAI’s Cultural Resources Center. A yearlong national dialogue amongst
tribal leaders, American museums and scien- tific institutions preceded the establishment of the NMAI. This dialogue was instrumen- tal in developing agreement on core values that would guide both policy and practice on a matter of great importance to Indian country as well as museums and scientific institutions – a process for the repatriation of the cultural patrimony of America’s Na- tive people. This dialogue also informed the manner in which the legislation to establish the National Museum of the American In- dian was subsequently formulated. In my view, having experienced the chal-
lenging days of its inception, as well as its sub- sequent growth and evolution, the National Museum of the American Indian has expand- ed exponentially upon the vision of what a Museum’s collection could become. NMAI has become a place where the native peoples of the Americas can find a home away from home and comfort amongst those cherished and familiar artifacts and art that give expres-
18 AMERICAN INDIAN SPRING 2017
sion not only to their past but to their living presence and the promising future which has been built upon the firm foundation of their ancestors’ legacies. The existence of the National Museum
of the American Indian has brought about dynamic changes – some of which were made possible by technological advances that have enabled the American and worldwide public to have direct pictorial access to the NMAI collection. Teachers hoping to develop rel- evant curriculum materials on the histories of Native people in America, their relationships with the United States, their previously less- than-well-known contributions to the fabric of American society and the modern-day expressions of their cultures and lifeways have found the NMAI to be a definitive and rich source of materials on all of these matters. As a result, the NMAI has launched a national education initiative. NMAI has also become a crucible for the
discussion of contemporary issues of critical significance to Indian country and the shap- ing of Federal policy. Symposia dialogues in- volving experts on these issues have served as an important source not only in the thought- ful shaping of public policy but in the dispel- ling of stereotypes and their symbolic repre- sentations. And the NMAI has consistently invited members of Congress and Federal policy-makers to become constructively en- gaged with tribal citizens representing a broad spectrum of Native perspectives. The National Museum of the American
Indian is fulfilling its responsibilities for the maintenance and care of a magnificent and vast collection, while simultaneously creating an international awareness, knowledge and a new understanding of Native people, their cultures, languages, histories and contempo- rary lifeways. Like all living beings, NMAI continues to
grow and to adapt to changing circumstances. The National Museum of the American In- dian is a vision and a dream in the process of being realized. X
Patricia Zell served as the chief counsel and staff director of the Senate Committee on Indian Affairs for 25 years. In that capacity she was involved in the negotiations with the city and state of New York enabling the transition between the Museum of the American Indian, Heye Foundation and the Smithsonian Institution, and the development of the legisla- tion authorizing the establishment of the National Museum of the American Indian. She served on the NMAI Board of Trustees for two terms and completed her last year of service on the Board as its Vice-Chair.
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68
