Newsletternational Museum of Natural History December 2005 Number 13
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Smithsonian Institution NewsletterNational Museum of Natural History December 2005www.mnh.si.edu/arctic Number 13 NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR collaboration between NMNH, NOAA, NASA, and NSF, explores By Bill Fitzhugh arctic environmental change as it effects land, sea, and atmosphere and how these changes impact human populations in the arctic A whirlwind of activities during the past year, including and beyond. When we began planning the exhibit as a public Greenland and Alaska Native Festivals at the Smithsonian, IPY-4 educational outreach component of the SEARCH program (Study planning, new research and publication projects, and a growing of Environmental Arctic Change) sponsored by the Interagency consensus that a major regime change is taking place in arctic Arctic Research Policy Committee three years ago, we had no climate – that ‘Friend Acting Strangely’ as northern Natives have idea this topic would become such a prominent public policy expressed it – have all brought the past year to a close. This time issue. We are therefore looking forward to the Smithsonian taking we are trying to reach you early in the new year, something we part in educating the public about what is certain to be one of the haven’t done for ten years. I also note, with relief, that my stint as most important environmental issues of the coming century. Anthropology Chairman ended in April with the appointment of As these developments in the wider world have been Daniel Rogers to this unfolding, the museum and the position for a five-year term. Smithsonian have been Arctic change is certainly engaged in an extensive period the key-word for this issue, of introspection and renewal for with the past year we seem following several years of to have crossed a threshold in strategic planning and scientific and public budgetary ‘restraint’. Planning awareness of the magnitude of and budget problems seem to environmental changes now be common bedfellows, and taking place in the arctic. The this certainly applies well to publication of the Arctic our current situation. However, Climate Impact Assessment a major Ocean hall is a- (ACIC) report, the Rivkin building, and the museum is series in The New York Times, actively seeking funds for a and many other highly major hall of human origins to publicized accounts have fill the void created by the crystallized a sea-change of closure of virtually all our out- opinion across a broad of-date Native American spectrum of disciplines and exhibits. We have also begun public arenas that we are planning a suite of new entering a new climate and exhibition halls presenting new environmental regime in the areas of anthropological North. While the long-term Labrador community archaeology team produces bilingual research. Whether we will magnitude and significance of (English/Inuktitut) booklet interpreting 18th century Inuit culture succeed in selling these concepts rising temperatures, rapidly retreating sea ice, melting permafrost, to donors and funders is truly a multi-million dollar question. shifts in animal migratory patterns, and impacts on human In the meantime, the ASC has been keeping our emptied halls settlements and activities of all sorts can still only be imagined, busy with a series of small exhibits and cultural festivals. Our there is no doubt that profound changes are afoot – both good and Festival of Greenland held over a weekend in early May brought a bad. And it seems likely that the combination of sea ice reduction large contingent of Greenland officials, artists, dancers, singers, and reduced snow cover may accelerate the warming effects far performers, and scholars to the Smithsonian as part of a broader beyond their magnitude in other regions of the globe. We may effort by the Greenland Home Rule Government to renew soon be faced with an arctic for which we have no Holocene connections with North America, specifically, with the precedent. Smithsonian and its scholars and collections. Henriette Early in 2006 the National Museum of Natural History will Rasmussen, Home Rule Minister of Culture, Education, open an exhibit that explores these issues as they relate to Research, and the Church, led the delegation, which brought fine environmental change and impacts on native and traditional art and photographic exhibits and presented lectures, music, and cultures in the north. Arctic: A Friend Acting Strangely, a receptions hosted with the assistance of The Smithsonian 2 ASC Newsletter Associates. At the close of the festival Minister Rasmussen has continued his community archaeology research in Labrador presented the NMNH with the magnificent kayak Maligiaq with the Innu and Inuit; Igor Krupnik has continued his studies of Padilla had constructed while demonstrating his kayak-building environmental change and local history in St. Lawrence Island skills to our visitors. In addition the ASC mounted several and Bering Strait; Noel Broadbent has completed his exhibits of its own, including newly-acquired Greenland tupilak archaeological studies in Sweden for his NSF project on Saami figurines, arctic books from the Smithsonian Institution Library, origins; and Aron Crowell has continued his archaeological and and a large foyer case display, Across Arctic America, featuring oral historical research in Kenai Fjords. the famous 1921-24 Fifth Thule Expedition of Danish- On the publication front, we have issued several new books: Greenlandic explorer-anthropologist, Knud Rasmussen. Stephen Loring’s community archaeology team produced a bi- This was followed in early November by an Alaska Native lingual (English and Inuktitut) account of their research at an 18th Culture and Arts Festival co-sponsored with the Alaska Native C. Labrador Inuit village near Makkaik, Labrador, and Leonid Arts Foundation under the energetic leadership of Alice Rogoff Khlobystin’s major opus on the archaeology of Taymyr. and a team of amazing women, one whom, Christine Peters, As we are getting accustomed to saying around the ASC became an adjunct member of the ASC staff with Christie Leece these days, “the earth is faster now,” but from our perspective it’s and Lena Sharp and pulled off a magnificent weekend of native not only the climate! Best wishes, and many thanks to all who art exhibitions, children’s programs, ‘Eskimo’ sports and have contributed interest, financial support, and cooperation over gymnastics, and musical performances featuring the now famous the past year. Pamyua group, and a steller performance of Yupik music and dance by Chuna McIntyre. The festival got off to a great start with a panel of Native leaders discussing climate change organized by Igor Krupnik, an event boosted by the surprise appearance of Governor Frank Murkowsky who took the occasion to open the festival and promote his economic development agenda for rural Alaska. This fall we also opened the spectacular photo exhibit, Frost, ○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○○ shot by Saami photographer Fred Ivar Utsi Klemetsen ○○○○○○○ documenting the lives of his people in northern Norway. The TABLE OF CONTENTS exhibit, which was curated by Noel Broadbent, had been assembled by the Norwegian Embassy as part of their anniversary of 100 years of independence (from Sweden) and was ASC Ancorage…….........……………………………..................3 accompanied by a TSA lecture program. Alaska Collections Project 2005 Planning for the Fourth International Polar Year (2007-8) has SI Alaska Cultures Gallery consumed a huge amount of Igor Krupnik’s time. Igor represents Collections………..........………………………………................5 the Smithsonian and social science in general on several national Yukon First Nations Visitors and international IPY4 committees. The IPY4 agenda is rapidly Outreach………………………………………….........................6 gathering momentum and financing, and for the first time social The Tshikapisk Foundation and the ASC science and native participation have become an integral to the Public Programs……….........……………...…………...............8 polar year process. The enthusiasm by which this has been Greenland Culture Festival supported by agencies, scientists, and native groups is making Alaska Native Arts and Culture Festival IPY4 a watershed event, coming as it is with the recognition of Arctic: A Friend Acting Strangely rapid arctic change. The Smithsonian anticipates participation The Frost Exhibit with exhibits of its own IPY history, lectures, and an international Fieldwork…….........…………………………………................13 symposium. 18th C. Basques in the Lower St. Lawrence Aron Crowell and Dawn Biddison have made tremendous Community Archaeology in Labrador progress this year on the Alaska Collection Project, as part of the Moravian Missionaries and Inuit in Labrador rapidly unfolding expansion plans at the Anchorage Museum of Archaeological Field School in Sweden History and Art. This new facility, to open in 2010, will include The SI-Mongolian Deer Stone Project Articles new offices and labs for the ASC and a large exhibit gallery Research……...........………………………………….................30 featuring Smithsonian collections being designed by Ralph ‘Jesup’ Photographs on the Web Appelbaum Associates. NMNH Anthropology is supplying International Polar Year 2007-2008 nearly 800 artifacts for these exhibitions. During the past year Indigenous Cultures of Alaska and Siberia, Ca. 1900 Aron and Dawn worked closely with Applebaum on exhibit plans, Rockwell Kent in Greenland completed the native consultations on collections in Washington, Rasmussen Press Archives Discovered established an advisory group,