A Museum Of Our Own...

All thanks to the Creator...

--ryan



A MUSEUM OF THEIR OWN


American Indian honored at Smithsonian
By Frederic J. Frommer
ASSOCIATED PRESS


WASHINGTON - A colorful Native Nations procession heralded the opening yesterday of the Smithsonian Institution's Museum of the American Indian, the newest addition to the historical treasure-trove dotting the National Mall.

White Mountain Apache Indians from White River, Ariz., drew a crowd with their exotic dress. Four had their chests painted black with white lettering, and the fifth was painted white with black lettering.

Pine needles were wrapped around their arms and waists, and wooden headgear reached two feet above their heads, which were covered in masks.

As they danced, metal balls around their shoes added to the sounds of an accompanying drummer.

Nearby, Aztec Indians from San Francisco danced with headfeathers that reached as high as six feet above their heads.

On Monday, hundreds of people were milling about the museum to get an early peek.

"At last we're getting some kind of recognition as Indian people," said Lawrence Orcutt, from the Yurok tribe in Northern California.

Missing from the opening festivities was the architect who designed the tan building, layered in swooping levels of Minnesota limestone rounded to depict the curves of the Earth, sun and moon.

Douglas J. Cardinal, a Canadian, was hired as architect in 1993, but he wound up in a dispute with the architectural firm that he subcontracted for, GBQC of Philadelphia, claiming he was losing money.

The Smithsonian failed to settle the differences between the two parties and fired both in 1998. Another architectural team finished the work.Native nations of america