FROM THE DIRECTOR
Sharing Our Stories T
his past Veterans Day, thousands of visitors attended the dedication of
the National Native American Veterans Memorial and the following weekend celebration at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washing- ton, D.C. Among them were more than 1,500 American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian veterans who joined the procession and honoring ceremony on the National Mall while thousands of other visitors watched the event on our livestream. The memorial is one of the many ways
that we acknowledge stories of individ- ual and community service, sacrifice and perseverance. Across Indigenous cultures, such stories vary as do their means of expression. Part of the muse- um’s mission is to provide a platform for Indigenous perspectives and expression in all of its forms. In this issue of Amer- ican Indian magazine, we share stories of individual and tribal efforts to retain culture, language and art that stretch across generations. This issue’s Perspective (page 8)
reflects on the complexities that can arise as a tribal historic preservation officer tries to reconcile professional commitments with cultural traditions and community expectations. Another story features Tlingit and Tsimshian poet Donna Beaver, who has found inspi- ration from the intricate carvings and other works by her grandfather and his brother (page 12) in NMAI’s collection. She combines photography and videog- raphy with her haiku, a Japanese style of poetry. One such poem in this article is translated into her Native language. Also in this issue, tribes across the Western Hemisphere tell of how they
6 WINTER 2022 AMERICAN INDIAN
are striving to revive and retain food tra- ditions. Many in Canada and the north- eastern United States are rediscovering stories and ceremonies associated with maple syrup as they are once again cre- ating their own (page 10). Meanwhile, the Inuit of Canada struggle to retain a core practice of their culture—the car- ibou hunt—even as the number of ani- mals continue to dwindle in parts of North America and beyond (page 16). The museum continuously works
with Indigenous communities to learn more about the pieces within its collec- tion. For example, NMAI is currently collaborating with the Mi’kmaw people of Nova Scotia to enhance the collec- tions information of and prepare more than 500 Mi’kmaw items to journey to the community for a long-term loan, many of which will be displayed in their Mi’kmawey Debert Cultural Centre once completed (page 26). Jeweler Erik Lee learned from listen-
ing to and watching other Native artists to develop his own style, which reflects his Plains Cree culture. This internation- ally recognized jeweler was among the dozens of artists from across the West- ern Hemisphere who were showcased this year at the museum’s annual Native Art Market (page 34). The stories of Indigenous cultures
are always being relayed through our various in-person programs and online experiences, and we offer many to help us stay connected with you throughout the winter season (page 44). We hope you will join us at the museum or online as our slate of programs keeps a steady pace this winter through celebrations of the art, culture and history of Indig- enous peoples.
Part of the museum’s mission is to provide a platform for Indigenous perspectives and expression in all of its forms.
cynthia chavez lamar (San Felipe Pueblo/Hopi/Tewa/Navajo) Director, National Museum of the American Indian
PHOTO BY WALTER LAMAR
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