Covering Indian Country Blog

Museum Tackles Stereotypes, Celebrates Culture

Before entering the National Museum of the American Indian, I was skeptical. Back in September, I produced a radio show about the museum’s opening on September 21, 2004. 

It’s hard to believe that this is the first national museum in the country dedicated exclusively to Native Americans.

A few of our guests said a museum celebrating Native culture is long overdue, but the louder voices argued a critical piece of history is missing.

Groups like the American Indian Movement feel the “museum falls short in that it does not characterize or does it display the sordid and tragic history of America’s holocaust against the Native Nations and peoples of the Americas.” They’re calling for the museum to be renamed the National Holocaust Museum of the American Indian.

A Jewish museum with no mention of the Holocaust is unthinkable. Doesn’t the same apply to a museum about Native Americans?

Helen Maynor Scheirbeck, NMAI’s assistant director for public programs, says while the museum aims to present stories, facts and statistics about the past, the main goal is to focus on the cultural aspects of Native life. “We consider ourselves to be a museum about the people who are living today,” she said. “The question we hope to answer is, ‘Who are Indian peoples?’”

The NMAI aims to tackle that question with three permanent exhibits: “Our Universes” features tribal philosophies and world views; “Our Peoples” a looks at historical events from a native peoples’ perspective; and “Our Lives” focuses on Native people today.

The museum was busy on Monday. The majority of the visitors seemed to be incredibly engaged.  “I had no idea they took blood samples from Indians,” said one patron. Another was shocked to learn that Indians were forced to carry ID cards providing they were in fact Indian.

Phillip Hillaire, our tour guide, encounters people who’ve never met a “real Indian” on a daily basis. Hillaire, who is a member of the Lummi tribe, says he’s used to the bizarre remarks and questions by now. “Kids often say, ‘Wow, you’re the first Indian I’ve ever met.’” Adults almost always ask about casinos. “A lot of them come in here thinking we’re all wealthy, but we’re not. This museum is helping to erase those stereotypes. It’s a good start.”

--Rose Aguilar, KALW-FM San Francisco

Posted on 03.08.05 at 7:42 AM by Rose Aguilar, KALW-FM San Franciso