Plains Indian Museum Seminar

Seminar | Seminar Archive

SEMINAR ARCHIVE: 2007 - 1977

2007

CULTURAL PRESERVATION: PLAINS INDIAN PEOPLE AND THE MAORI

For the first time in the Plains Indian Museum Seminar’s history, the 2007 program addressed indigenous cultures and peoples outside of the North American Great Plains with the objectives of comparison, exchanging information, and providing understanding of the significance and processes of cultural preservation for Native communities. The annual field trip took the group to the Big Horn Medicine Wheel - east of Cody in the Big Horn Mountains.

Overview and 2007 Field Trip Images...

2007 Presenters...

2006

MEMORY AND VISION: NATIVE ARTS OF THE GREAT PLAINS

Plains Indian people have always turned to the arts as a means of expressing and communicating cultural knowledge, beliefs and values, tribal histories, and understandings about the land and universe as a whole. From generation to generation, Plains artists have creatively incorporated new ideas and materials with historical and traditional designs as powerful expressions of cultural identities and their own lives and experiences.

See Images from the 2006 Field Trip...

2006 Presenters...

2005

NATIVE LAND AND THE PEOPLE OF THE GREAT PLAINS

To the Native people of the Great Plains, the land and its resources are integrally connected to tribal traditions, knowledge, beliefs, economies, and other cultural elements. The land has served both as inspiration for Native artists and as a source of conflict during historical struggles to protect tribal homelands. Many sites within the Great Plains have inherent and ongoing spiritual meanings to tribal members as places of origins of traditions or important historical significance. Today, the land and its resources continue to tie the people to their cultural traditions as tribes consider new economic uses and encounter contemporary threats to its preservation and protection.

Overview...

2004

ENDURING EXPRESSIONS: MUSIC & DANCE OF THE GREAT PLAINS

For Native people of the Great Plains, music and dance are profound cultural and artistic expressions of tribal histories, experiences, traditions and beliefs. Through difficult and challenging times, Plains Indian people have survived and found meaning in music and dance traditions that - combined with languages, arts, spirituality, and philosophies - define cultural identities. The Seminar kicked off with a concert by Crow blues and rock musician Jared Stewart.

Interview with Crow Musician Jared Stewart...

2003

NATIVE PERSPECTIVES ON THE LEWIS AND CLARK EXPEDITION

The commemoration of the bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark Expedition of 1804-1806 allows for reconsideration of the journey and its aftermath from the perspectives of the Native inhabitants of the lands visited by the Corps of Discovery. Thomas Jefferson viewed the American West as a chosen country suitable for territorial expansion and colonization by generations of Euro-Americans. The western lands explored through the expedition, however, were homes for the hunting, farming and fishing indigenous nations of the Central and Northern Plains, the Plateau, and the Northwest. As the Corps of Discovery pursued geographic, political, commercial, and diplomatic objectives, how was the complex cultural landscape observed? What were the historical repercussions and what significance to contemporary Native Americans? The 2003 Plains Indian Seminar featured numerous perspectives on this unique exploration of Lewis and Clark's expedition through the American West.

Overview...

2002 

ADVERSITY AND RENEWAL:
EARLY RESERVATION LIFE ON THE PLAINS, 1880-1930

By 1880, Native people of the Plains had witnessed the end of their lives as free buffalo hunters, and were experiencing the adversities associated with reservation life. How did they build new lives while preserving and renewing many cultural traditions during the transitional reservation period of 1880 to 1930? Presenters at the 2002 seminar addressed subjects such as early reservation art, the ethics and responsibilites of museum collecting from this period, social, ceremonial and economic exchanges, influences of missionaries and government policies, intertribal relations and exchanges, and the renewal and revitalization of cultural traditions.

Overview...

2001

CIRCLES OF KNOWLEDGE: PLAINS INDIAN EDUCATION

The 2001 Plains Indian Seminar addressed the theme: Circles of Knowledge: Plains Indian Education. Suggested topics included childhood and rites of passage; traditional teaching of arts and cultural knowledge; oral history; educational roles of elders; effects of missionaries, federal policies and boarding schools; tribal colleges and museums; and innovative language and culture preservation programs.

Overview...

2000

SACRED LANDS

Within the landscape of the Great Plains, Native people have found certain places to have inherent spiritual meanings as sites from which cultural knowledge, beliefs, and traditions originated. Other locations where villages once stood or significant events took place also are important elements of tribal histories and patrimonies. In the late 19th and early 20th centuries, as tribes were removed from homelands and limited in moving beyond reservations, Native people often were not able to visit such places to participate in and renew related cultural traditions. In recent years, the focus on sacred places has been strengthened within tribal traditions, as Native people have sought to protect such sites as the Medicine Wheel and Bears Lodge (Devils Tower) of Wyoming and the Sweet Grass Range of Montana.

Overview...

1999

THE HORSE AS SYMBOL IN PLAINS INDIAN CULTURES

The horse as a symbol in tribal history and culture, both past and present, was the focus of the 1999 Plains Indian Seminar. Presenters used artistic representations, historic photographs, song, dance, oral histories, as well as the dressing of a live horse for parade, all helping to relate the significance of this majestic animal to the Native cultures of North America.

1998

PLAINS INDIAN ART: THE PICTORIAL TRADITION

The Plains Indians have a long, rich tradition of documenting the significant events of their lives, creating objects, and endowing them with images to communicate what was most important to them. Presentations focused on the representational images that were drawn, painted, quilled, or beaded by Plains Indians on their tipis, clothing, tools, weapons, winter counts, and ledger books. Presentations addressed pictorial art from the early 19th century through today, focusing on tradition, continuity, change, and innovation through time.

1997

A PLACE IN THE UNIVERSE

The 1997 Seminar focused on the artistic expressions of Plains Indian people in relation to their past and present environments. Papers offered perspectives on how art has served to interpret and create an understanding of the Plains environment and the universe as a whole and the people's place within that universe. Topics included representations of the geography and cosmology of the Plains, including symbols of the earth, animals, and sky; artistic expressions in relation to the farming and buffalo hunting traditions; art, which creates spiritual understanding of the universe; and artistic interpretations of environmental changes and contemporary concerns.

1996

POWERFUL EXPRESSIONS: ART OF PLAINS INDIAN WOMEN

The artistic contributions of women of Great Plains tribes, past and present. Offering new perspectives on women's art within social, economic, religious, and familial contexts. Topics included the works of individual artists, traditional and nontraditional media, distinctive tribal styles and designs, the economic importance of women's art, innovation and/or cultural preservation, and teaching of artistic traditions.

1995

ART OF THE PLAINS / VOICES OF THE PRESENT

Contemporary art of Plains Indian people -- its evolution and place within the contexts of cultures, economies, and current issues was the focus. Topics included the works of artists in traditional and nontraditional media, historical development of contemporary artwork, art as political commentary, the influence of the market, and artistic expression in cultural celebrations.

1994

POWER AND BEAUTY: HORSES OF THE PLAINS INDIANS

Examining the historical and contemporary roles of horses in Plains Indian arts, cultures, economies, and lives. Topics for presentations and panel discussions included historical patterns of horse use, horses in art and oral traditions, Plains Indian riding gear, and contemporary roles of horses in tribal communities.

1993

TRADITIONS AND TRANSITIONS: ART OF THE RESERVATIONS

The art of Plains Indian peoples during the transitional reservation period of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Presentations included preservation of artistic traditions, changes and adaptations in designs and materials, influence of economic changes, and collection of artwork on reservations.

1992

THE ARTIST AND THE MISSIONARY:
A NATIVE-AMERICAN AND EURO-AMERICAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE

The impact on the art of Native artists and missionaries brought about by the contact and exchange between the Plains Indians and the various Euro-American Christian missionaries. Topics for presentations and panel discussions related to one of three areas:

1. ...pre-contact Plains art and culture;
2. ...historical and cultural background on the missionaries to the American Plains Indians;
3. ...exploration of the exchange between these varied cultures and its expression in the arts.

1991

INDIAN ART OF THE CANADIAN PLAINS

The seminar focused on the Indian art of the Canadian plains, comparing it with the art of the Northern Plains tribes of the United States.

1990

THE GHOST DANCE AND SIOUX INDIAN ART

In the continuous exploration of the innumerable expressions of Indian art, this 1990 seminar focused on Ghost Dance art and other Sioux art expressions of that time period.

1989

PLAINS INDIAN ART: THE SOUTHERN PLAINS

The 1989 seminar focused on the art styles of those tribes occupying the southern section of the Plains: Cherokee, Pawnee, Osage, Kiowa, Comanche, Southern Arapaho, Southern Cheyenne, Pueblo and others.

1988

PLAINS INDIAN ART: THE EASTERN EDGE

The 1988 seminar focused on the art styles of those tribes occupying the eastern section of the Plains: Ponca, Omaha, Iowa, Pawnee, Oto, Missouri and others.

1987

IDENTIFICATION OF PLAINS INDIAN ART

Seventeen speakers presented papers on the topic of Plains Indian Art, including: Dr. John C. Ewers, "Some Persistent Problems in the Identification of Plains Indian Art"; Anne Merritt, "Women's Robes Among the Crow and Other Northern Plains Tribes"; and Benson Lanford, "Origin of Plains Indian Beadwork Motifs."

1986

REFLECTIONS OF THE PEOPLE: THE PLAINS INDIANS AND THEIR PHOTOGRAPHERS

This three-day seminar explored the many images of the Plains Indian people and their culture as recorded by historic and contemporary photographers. The purpose of the tenth annual Plains Indian Seminar is to recognize, perpetuate and encourage the appreciation of America's Native arts.

1985

THE CONCEPT OF SACRED MATERIALS AND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD

Thirteen speakers presented papers, including: Ben Friday, Arapaho Spiritual Leader, "Traditional Sacredness"; Dr. Steve Talbot, Professor, Oregon State University, "A History of U.S. Policy Toward Indian Religion"; Walter Echohawk, Attorney at Law, Native American Rights Fund, "Sacred Materials and the Law"; Gary Goggles, Arapaho Administrator, "Sacredness and the new Indian Generation."

1984

ARTIFACTS / ARTIFAKES

Twelve papers were presented including: Toby Herbst, "The Forging of Native American Indian Art"; Carolyn Corey, "Commercially Available 'Old' Trade Items"; Richard Edwards, "Replicas and the Law."

1983

OF BEAUTY AND POWER: THE PLAINS INDIAN WOMAN

Fourteen papers included: Debra LaCounte, "Women in the Origins and Early History"; Dr. Charlotte Heath, "Indian Music and Women"; Darnell Door, "Women and Media."

1982

ORIGINS, HISTORY, AND ART OF THE SIOUX, CREE, AND BLACKFEET

"Origins of American Indians," presented by Dr. Richard S. MacNeish, Director and Senior Research Associate, Peabody Foundation for Archaeology, Andover, Massachusetts; "The Sioux," by Royal B. Hassrick, Commissioner of Indian Arts and Crafts Board, U.S. Department of the Interior, Walpole, New Hampshire; "The Cree," by Dr. John Anson Warner, Professor of Sociology and Social Studies, University of Regina, Saskatchewan; and "The Blackfeet" by Dr. John C. Ewers, Senior Ethnologist Emeritus, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.

1981

FIFTH ANNUAL PLAINS INDIAN SEMINAR IN HONOR OF DR. JOHN C. EWERS

The eight papers presented included: Colin Taylor, "Analysis and Classification of the Ceremonial Shirt: John Ewer's Influence on a Plains Material Culture Project"; Dr. Joseph C. Porter, "A Case Study of John C. Ewers' Concept of the 'Friendly Enemies' "; Dr. William Turnbaugh "Cloudblowers and Calumets" ; Dr. C. Adrian Heidenriech "The Content and Context of Crow Indian Ledger Art."

1980

RIBBONWORK AND CLOTH APPLIQUE

Presentations at the fourth annual seminar were: Richard Conn, Director, Native Arts Dept., Denver Art Museum "Origins to the Southern Plains"; Research Associates, Oklahoma City, Alice Marriot and Carol K. Rachlin, S.W. "Southern Plains Ribbonwork Development & Diffusion"; Georgeanne Robinson,contemporary Osage ribbonwork artist, Bartlesville, Oklahoma "Contemporary Traditional Ribbonwork"; Patricia Bird, Assiniboine/Sioux applique artist, Wolf Point, Montana "Contemporary Cloth Applique."

1979

DESIGN SYMBOLOGY AND DECORATION

The seminar included the following discussions: Arthur Amiotte, Art Instructor, Fort Yates College, "Sacred Significance and Meaning of Some Northern Plains Art Forms"; Dr. Frederick Dockstader, author of Indian Art in America, former director of Museum of the American Indian, "Plains Symbology and Art: the Evolving Traditions."

1978

ATTIRE AND ADORNMENT

The purpose of the second annual Plains Indian Seminar was to assemble an international group of distinguished cultural anthropologists and ethnologists who will present papers to a body of participants in order to explore the traditions of attire and adornment among the Plains Indians.

1977

TRADITIONAL NORTHERN PLAINS INDIAN ART

The purpose of the first seminar was to assemble an international group of distinguished cultural anthropologists and ethnologists to present papers to a body of participants in order to explore the subject of traditions in Northern Plains Indian art ­ patterns, designs, tribal differences, outside influences, techniques, materials, artistic evolution, and style diffusion.