December 2004

University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers National Park Service 12-2004 Heritage Matters- December 2004 Fran P. Mainella National Park Service, [email protected] Janet Snyder Matthews National Park Service John Robbins National Park Service, [email protected] Antoinette J. Lee National Park Service, [email protected] Brian D. Joyner National Park Service, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark Mainella, Fran P.; Snyder Matthews, Janet; Robbins, John; Lee, Antoinette J.; and Joyner, Brian D., "Heritage Matters- December 2004" (2004). U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers. 62. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/natlpark/62 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the National Park Service at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in U.S. National Park Service Publications and Papers by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. NATIONAL PARK SERVICE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR HERITAGE MATTERS NEWS OF THE NATION’S DIVERSE CULTURAL HERITAGE National Museum of the American Indian Opens to Great Fanfare INSIDE THIS ISSUE The Smithsonian Institution, entrance to catch the rising sun, in honor of Private First Class Curriculum materials National Museum of the American a prism window, and a 120-foot- Lori A. Piestewa, who was the first available, p. 3 Indian (NMAI), opened its doors high atrium called the Potomac. Native American servicewoman to Conferences to the public on September 21, NMAI was designed by Jones & give her life in overseas combat. A upcoming, p. 17 2004 on the National Mall in Jones, SmithGroup in association song was performed in her honor Grant Washington, DC. The museum, with Lou Weller and the Native by Black Eagle, a drum group recipients, p. 4 which was 15 years in the making, American Design Collaborative and from the Jemez Pueblo in New National Register is the first national museum in the Polshek Partnership Architects in Mexico. Remarks were delivered nominations, p. 7 country dedicated exclusively to consultation with Native American by Lawrence M. Small, Secretary Publication Native Americans, the first to pres- communities over a four-year of the Smithsonian Institution; of note, p. 17 ent all exhibitions from a Native period. Alejandro Toledo, President of viewpoint, and the first constructed The opening day ceremonies Peru; Senators Ben Nighthorse on the National Mall since 1987. began with more than 25,000 Campbell of Colorado and Daniel More than 92,000 people visited Native Americans from more than K. Inouye of Hawaii, who intro- the museum during the first week. 500 tribes and Native communities duced the legislation in 1989 that The 5-story, 250,000-square from North, Central, and South created the museum; and founding foot, curvilinear building is located America, participating in a Native director W. Richard West Jr. between the National Air and Space Nations procession. According to Approximately 8,000 objects Museum and the United States estimates, it was the largest gather- from the museum’s permanent Capitol. The textured golden- ing of Native peoples in modern collection are on display. An art colored limestone exterior evokes history. exhibit and works of historic and natural rock formations shaped Included in the opening cer- contemporary art placed through- by wind and water over thousands emony was a presentation of the out the building complement three of years. It features an east-facing colors by the Hopi Honor Guard major exhibits. A welcome wall The picture depicts the Santa Fe of five centuries ago: the Spaniard Cortés meets with Tlaxcaltecan nobles. See page 6. HERITAGE MATTERS Thousands participated in the procession from the National Mall to the Capitol during the National Museum of the DECEMBER 2004 American Indian’s opening ceremony. Courtesy of Jeff Tinsley. HERITAGE MATTERS DECEMBER 2004 One of the most distinctive buildings on the National Mall, the National Museum of the American Indian—pictured from the east—opened on September 21, 2004. Courtesy of Jeff Tinsley. Left: Interior dome above the Potomac atrium. Courtesy of Marcia Axtmann Smith. of video screens at the museum’s making vital contributions to con- entrance greets visitors in 150 temporary American culture and Native languages, conveying the art,” said West. significant presence and diversity “The Smithsonian is honored of Native peoples throughout the to present this vital new museum, Americas. This message is again created by Native peoples from reinforced in the Lelawi (leh-LAH- this hemisphere, to the American wee) Theater, a 120-seat circular public and visitors from around theater offering a 13-minute multi- the world,” Secretary Small offered media experience, “Who We Are,” during his remarks. “Its importance that prepares museum-goers for can’t be over estimated; it’s a must- their visit. “Visitors will leave this see for anyone visiting the nation’s museum experience knowing that capital.” Indians are not just a part of For more information, visit NMAI’s website at history. We are still here and are http://www.AmericanIndian.si.edu. page 2 the Cherokee Nation perished on FEDERAL ACTIVITIES their journey to the newly created “Indian Territory” in what is now Oklahoma. Age, infirmity, disease, and inadequate protection from the elements contributed to the “The Trail of Tears” During the late 18th and early casualties. in the Classroom 19th century, tribes across the The “Trail of Tears” lesson eastern United States began sur- plan is based on three National Yolanda Montalvo rendering their lands to the Federal Register properties: the John Ross National Park Service, CRDIP Summer Government in return for mon- House, the Major Ridge House, 2004 Intern etary compensation. This com- and Rattlesnake Springs. The Ross pensation rarely came to fruition, House and the Ridge House (called Teaching with Historic Places leaving most American Indians “Chieftains”), both in Georgia, (TwHP), a program within the homeless and destitute in new ter- are National Historic Landmarks. National Register of Historic ritory. The election of renowned Rattlesnake Springs in Tennessee is Places, provides classroom lesson Indian fighter Andrew Jackson as a stockade camp where Cherokees plans that introduce elementary president, the discovery of gold were initially collected after being and secondary students to the rich on Cherokee lands in Georgia, forced off of their land. Ross and history embodied in our nation’s and the 1830 Indian Removal Act Ridge were two influential leaders culturally diverse historic sites. sealed the Cherokee’s fate. About in the Cherokee Nation. Both were It recently launched its 118th les- 100,000 Cherokee, Chickasaw, borne of Anglo/Indian marriages son plan, “The Trail of Tears: The Choctaw, Creeks, and Seminoles and were fiercely committed to the Forced Relocation of the Cherokee were removed from their tradition- welfare of the Cherokee people. Nation.” Focusing on three historic al lands. Although the Cherokee They were bitterly divided on the sites, this lesson plan chronicles the were among the last to leave, they issue of whether or not to accept events leading up to the relocation eventually packed their belong- the Treaty of New Echota, under of the Cherokee tribe, the march ings and headed west in the fall which the United States would itself, and its devastating aftermath. of 1838. An estimated one-fifth of provide compensation and land Below left: Home to one of the leaders of the Cherokee Nation, the Major Ridge House in Rome, Georgia, is located near the former capital of the Cherokee Nation, New Enchota. Courtesy of Robert Irwin. Right: “The Trail of Tears” lesson plan addresses the forced migration of the Cherokee to Oklahoma. Some of the trails the Cherokee traveled, such as this one in Tennessee, are still visible. Photo by Benjamin Nance, courtesy of the Tennessee page 3 HERITAGE MATTERS DECEMBER 2004 in Indian Territory. Feeling that it Reviewing and and associated funerary objects was futile to fight the government, Reflecting on the in their collections, and 2) a sum- Ridge and some Cherokees formed Native American mary of those collections that may a Treaty Party and negotiated to contain unassociated funerary accept the treaty. This infuriated Graves Protection objects, sacred objects, or objects Ross and many who believed they and Repatriation Act of cultural patrimony. Consultation should continue attempts to keep with lineal descendants, tribes, and their homelands. This division is Paula Molloy Native Hawaiian organizations is still a topic of debate; while some National NAGPRA Program, National integral to this process. Museums Park Service believe Ridge was a realist, others and federal agencies must send view Ross as heroic. the inventories and summaries to In the late 1980s, representatives of The lesson plan consists of potential claimants and the Nation- Indian tribes and Native American maps, readings, and images that al Park Service National NAGPRA organizations from across the offer a compelling study of the program. nation gathered in Washington, Cherokee plight. The maps high- NAGPRA has special require- DC, to testify before Congress on light routes taken by the Cherokee ments for federal agencies. When an issue of central spiritual and during the relocation and the lands activities on federal

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