Arctic Studies Center Newsletter 2020
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Newsletter Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History May 2020 https://naturalhistory.si.edu/research/anthropology/programs/arctic-studies-center Number 27 NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR SI collaboration with Anchorage Museum projects and exhibition, including the Living Our Cultures By William W. Fitzhugh exhibition. What has changed is the administrative structure on the SI side. The new document is no This past year the Smithsonian set out with a new longer a straight NMNH-AM agreement. Recognizing leader, Secretary Lonnie G. Bunch III, installed on the large stake in our Alaska programs, the National 16 June. Lonnie was catapulted to the position by Museum of the American Indian is a co-signer. This his phenomenal success as founding director of the change recognizes the larger role the Anchorage office National Museum of African American History and is now playing across the Smithsonian, as you will Culture, creating the museum out of whole cloth recognize in the following reports from Aron Crowell beginning in 2005. The NMAAHC is a sensational and Dawn Biddison. We are grateful to Kirk Johnson success, engaging audiences that have never visited and Kevin Gover, John Davis, the SI Office of the the Smithsonian. Before General Counsel, and NMAAHC, Bunch others who contributed served as director of to the new agreement. the Chicago Historical The Alaska office of Society (2001–2005) and the ASC was pleased in various positions at to share news of the the Smithsonian before new MOU with the that. Smithsonian National Board (SNB) during The new Secretary has its meeting and tour in already indicated his Alaska this past July emphasis on outreach (see Crowell on SNB in and education, especially this issue). to under-served audiences. Recently Other notable he pitched in for a developments of the trial partnership with Igor Krupnik completed his first year as Chair of the past year include the the Victoria and Albert Smithsonian’s Department of Anthropology and received the SI continued warming of Museum in London, Secretary’s Distinguished Scholar Award for 2019. the Arctic, now inching which is building a Photo by Libby Weiler upward beyond “two new V&A East facility times faster than the rest of the world” and having in Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. The collaboration major impacts on Arctic environments, peoples, and includes a Smithsonian exhibit space dedicated to the cultures, as noted in Igor Krupnik’s article on this themes of people in the environment, sustainability, and year’s “Arctic Report Card.” The launch of the German adaptation, with a focus on youth education. Polarstern MOSAiC (Multidisciplinary drifting Observatory for the Study of Arctic Climate) drift This year saw other important developments for the expedition will give scientists their first chance to study ASC, most importantly the signing of a new Memo of the oceanography of the polar basin in a comprehensive Understanding with the Anchorage Museum carrying and more controlled way, hopefully, than Nansen’s us forward to December 2024. The content of the Fram drift in 1893–1896. document is virtually the same as previously (see Aron Crowell on MOU in this issue), providing the ASC Closer to home, ASC has been busy with numerous Anchorage office with space and administrative support projects. The narwhal exhibition closed at NMNH for our research and education programs in return for in January 2020. It will be sent off in June for two 2 ASC Newsletter years as a redesigned SITES (Smithsonian Institution at the Etnografiska Museet in Stockholm to explore Traveling Exhibition Service) presentation with its an important historical collection from the Chukchi messages about the still-mysterious and iconic Arctic Peninsula assembled during the Vega expedition of ‘sea-unicorn’, climate change, and Inuit collaboration 1878–1879. Aron and geologist Chris Maio (University with scientists. Planning continues for a new SITES of Alaska Fairbanks) with colleagues from UAF, boreal forest show, as well as a novel Victoria & Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, and Texas Albert Museum Smithsonian gallery. Our exhibition A&M University published a geoarchaeological study in Anchorage survived the November 30, 2018, 7.1 of the Kenai Peninsula coast in the Journal of Coastal quake with flying colors—a tribute to the fine design Research (see fieldwork account in ASC Newsletter and care taken by our NMNH and NMAI installers and 23:8-11, 2016), and Aron continued a study with conservators, several of whom returned for a week the biologist Thomas Helser (National Marine Fisheries following spring to assess collection status. Only a few Service, NOAA) on North Pacific ocean temperatures pieces shifted in their mounts, while the cases suffered over the last 6,000 years, based on isotopic analysis of a few cracks (see “Earthquake Repairs to the Living archaeological cod otoliths. John Cloud and Bernadette Our Cultures exhibition,” ASC Newsletter 26: 8-10), Engelstad took part in conferences on Tlingit history 2019). Case repairs were completed swiftly, and the and cartography, and Canadian Inuit clothing art, hall re-opened in time for the summer tourist season. respectively. Igor continued corralling Danish and Canadian colleagues for a forthcoming celebration of One of the highlights of the year was a December the Fifth Thule Expedition (FTE, 1921–1924), and symposium organized by Igor Krupnik to commemorate with Aron Crowell, Stephen Loring, and Bernadette the 150th anniversary of Engelstad took part in John Wesley Powell’s the first FTE conference 1869 Grand Canyon in Nome at the Alaska expedition. Powell—the Anthropology meetings, founder of the USGS, the first of several events the BAE, and several planned for the FTE other Washington-based centennial era. organizations, had a very good year in 2019, as A final note: In this did his descendants, who issue, you will find that took part in USGS re- traditional boats are a enactments in Colorado recurring theme. Arctic and in D.C., as well as watercraft have been at the Smithsonian. Two popping up everywhere days of talks and tours recently following our of the Cosmos Club accessioning of an intact reunited descendants, St. Lawrence Island Powell scholars ASC contingent (Left to right: Igor Krupnik, Stephen Loring and skin boat (angyapik) to including Kay and Don Bernadette Engelstad) with Amy Chan (second from right) at the the NMNH collection Fowler and Curtis Alaska Anthropological Meeting in Nome. Photo by Amy Chan two years ago. The Hinsley, and others who accession was timely, met with SI staff for the first time in years. given the soon-to-be-released book, Bark and Skin Boats of Northern Eurasia by Harri Luukkanen and Research proceeded a-pace. Stephen Loring and Tony me in September 2020. And this NL issue includes Jenkinson documented ancient Maritime Archaic several articles about skin boats from Alaska and East sites on Lake Mistastin in northern Labrador and Bill Greenland. Fitzhugh, Brad Loewen, and Erik Phaneuf found new Basque land and underwater sites in St. Paul on And as a ‘final’ final note, thanks to all who the Quebec Lower North Shore, where they excavated contributed to our work this year, including especially an 18th-century Inuit house that had been attacked and Nancy Shorey who facilitated much of what we do, burned. Igor was honored by receiving the Secretary’s assisted by Zaborian Payne, and Michelle Reed, Distinguished Scholar Award for which he presented our staff artist,Marcia Bakry, Igor Chechushkov, an inspiring SI-wide lecture, Igor and Aron have been Anthropology Chair, Igor Krupnik, and Assistant Chair, working hard over the last year to bring the Arctic Laurie Burgess, and the small army of volunteers, Crashes volume to publication (now expected by fieldworkers, and interns, some of whose activities you June 2020). Igor also worked with Martin Schultz will read about below in their own words. ASC Newsletter 3 TABLE OF CONTENTS NOTES FROM THE DIRECTOR .........................1 Saga of the Vega Expedition’s Chukchi Collection, 1878–2020...................................................................51 2019/2020 PARTNERS AND DONORS .................4 Inuvialuit Delegation Visits Smithsonian Collections ..55 ASC ANCHORAGE, ALASKA OFFICE ..............5 OUTREACH ............................................................57 A New Smithsonian-Anchorage Agreement .................5 Gateways Exhibit at the Whiteley Museum, Quebec ...57 The Smithsonian National Board—Off to Alaska! .......5 Fashion Workshop in Anchorage ................................57 Why are Glacial Fiords Such Great Places to Live? ������9 Narwhal Exhibit Closes at NMNH and Begins Smithsonian Funds ASC Learning Lab Site for Alaska S.I.T.E.S. Tour ������������������������������������������������������������59 Schools ........................................................................12 The Dena'ina Qunsha Parka: a Collaboration with Lake INTERNS AND FELLOWS ..................................60 Clark National Park and Preserve ...............................13 Another Dickensonian Arrives at The Smithsonian......60 Inuit Artist Residencies: a Partnership with the Inuit Art The Amazing and Magical Narwhal ...........................60 Foundation ..................................................................14 Fishskinlab Greetings ��������������������������������������������������61 Polar Lab: Collective ..................................................15 New Media ..................................................................16