Seminole tribal elder Bobby Henry visits the exhibition, which showcases the work of contemporary Native artists alongside objects from centuries past. The pieces demon- strate how ancestral American Indian craftsmanship influences modern generations. The exhibition features items on loan from the National Museum of the American Indian, the Museum of Indian Arts and Culture, the Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum, the Potawatomi Tribe, Richard Hammel and the Wheelwright Museum.


Throughout Indian Country, music has always been a unifying force in preserving cultural traditions. The songs featured in the Creating Tradition gallery reflect the regions featured. Some musicians evoke the land; others, such as A Tribe Called Red, incorporate traditional music into contemporary digitized creations. A mix of genres and styles represents personal backgrounds: Pamyua, for example, blends jazz and reggae melodies with Inuit and Yup’ik traditions. From beautiful harmonies sung by rock and roll legend Robbie Robertson (Mohawk) to the soothing melodies of the Sweethearts of Navajo, the music honors those who created the objects showcased in this exhibition.


SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION 35


PHOTO BY DAVID ROARK


PHOTO BY KENT PHILLIPS


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