Like any dynamic culture, Native Americans of the Indiana region have maintained ties to the past while continually adapting to change and adopting new ways

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art Indianapolis, Indiana

Mission: To inspire an appreciation and understanding of the art, history and cultures of the American West and the indigenous peoples of North America

Visitor Studies Want  Art, history and culture (interdisc.)  Multi-sensory, interactives, technology  Info on Native Americans from this region (Indiana)  Family opportunities  Subjects that evoke emotions and are relevant

Visitor perceptions of Native Americans Visitors have difficulty integrating contemporary NA info into their prior knowledge of what it means to be Indian. So, how does a museum help its visitors connect objects and traditions of the past to peoples of today?

By letting Native cultures speak for themselves through quotes, images, video and live interpreters.

The outside world has presented its version of Native American history and culture many times, in many ways. Now it is time for Native Americans to symbolically stand before you, firmly grasping the wampum of truth, and tell their story, in their own way, in their own words. - Ray Gonyea (Onondaga Iroquois), Curator of Native American Art and Culture at the Eiteljorg

Interactive map: Indian Indiana

Myaamiaki (The Miami People)

My youngest daughter was in grade school and … [the teacher] said, There are no Miami Indians here.” And she told the teacher, “I’m here.” And I went up to her and said, “I’m here. And there’s more Miamis.” - David Marks (Miami Nation of Indiana), 1998

Myaamiaki

Myaamiaki

Finished mahkahsina (moccasins) made by Scott Shoemaker

Ribbonwork interactive

Bodewadmi (The Potawatomi People)

Bodewadmi

I live in two worlds really. I go to work everyday and I live in a house and I drive a Tahoe and I wear Reebok shoes, just like everybody does. But also, I follow the good road. It’s important to me to keep that balance. - John Pigeon (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi)

Finished basket by John Pigeon

Waahkahseeta (The Circle)

Basketry interactive

Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki (The Delaware and Other Peoples)

Lenapeyok & Mihtohseeniaki

I’m sure I’m using the tools a lot different from my predecessors, but if a culture doesn’t change, it becomes stagnant and dies. - Don Secondine (Delaware), 2001

Historical Timeline is like the edge of a pond rippling through the gallery

Historical Timeline

You take too much of [our] lands away…. The print of my ancestors’ houses are every where to be seen in this portion. - Miami Chief Little Turtle, 1795 We are determined to defend our lands, and if it is [the Great Spirit’s] will, we wish to leave our bones upon them. - Tecumseh (Shawnee), ca My grandfather was working for the recognition for years and years, and he told us that we would be lucky to see it in our lifetimes. But it did happen. - Marge Moody (Pokagon Band of Potawatomi), 2002

Time as a river is a more Euro-American concepts of time, with each event happening and passing on like a river flows downstream. Time as a pond is a more Native American concept of time, with everything happening on the same surface, in the same area – and each event is a ripple on the surface.