National Museum of the American Indian

Events in New York



12th Native American Film and Video Festival December 04–07, 2003 George Gustav Heye Center, New York The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian 12th Native American Film + Video Festival celebrates the field of Native media with the presentation of more than 85 new productions, and many of the media makers on hand to introduce their work. Film, video and television, radio, multimedia and Website works from North, Central, and South America and Hawaii will be showcased. Organized by the NMAI Film and Video Center, the festival will take place at the George Gustav Heye Center. Additional festival screenings will be held at the Donnell Media Center of The New York Public Library, the African Diaspora Film Festival and the American Indian Community House. All programs are free to the public. A schedule of screenings will be posted at www.nativenetworks.si.edu (English) or www.redesindigenas.si.edu (Espanol).

An Animation Celebration December 05, 2003–January 11, 2004, Daily, 11:30 a.m.–2 p.m. Repeated as noted on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Viewing Room, second floor at State Street Corridor George Gustav Heye Center, New York Stories from the Seventh Fire-Summer (24 min. Canada). Produced by Gerry Cook, Ava Karvonen, Gregory Coyes (Metis Cree), and George Johnson. In this episode of the Tales of Wesakechak, when the trickster hero of the series wants a new name, he discovers where strength really lies. In an episode of Wolf Tale, Mother Wolf (voice of Tantoo Cardinal) tells her competitive little cubs about the time when the Caribou learned the truth about power and size. The Beginning They Told (2003, 11 min., USA). Joseph Erb (Cherokee). The animals living in the sky vault work together to bring about the creation of the earth from a tiny piece of mud. How the Redbird Got His Color (2003, 4 min., USA). Produced by the American Indian Resource Center, Tallequah, Okla. In Cherokee with English subtitles. Cherokee students at the Dahlonegah Elementary School make a claymation of a traditional story that tells of a kind deed rewarded. Box of Daylight (1990, 9 min., USA). Janet Fries for the Sealaska Heritage Foundation. The Naa Kahidi Theater of southeastern Alaska presents the Tlingit story of how Raven brought daylight to the world. Tales of Wesakechak: The First Spring Flood (2002, 14 min., Canada). Produced by Gerry Cook, Ava Karvonen, Gregory Coyes (Métis Cree), and George Johnson. From Stories from the Seventh Fire—Spring. In the time before people lived on Turtle Island (North America), the Creator put the trickster Wesakechak on earth to take care of all creatures. When he is tricked by the jealous spirit Machias, his friends come to his aid. Repeated on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Totem Talk (1997, 22 min., Canada). Annie Frazier-Henry (French-Sioux-Blackfoot). Computer-animated clan totems put urban youth back in touch with their Northwest Coast heritage. Repeated on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m. Christmas at Wapos Bay (2002, 48 min., Canada). Dennis Jackson (Cree).In Cree with English subtitles. In this claymation, three children visit their grandfather at his cabin in the woods. As they hunt a moose for food, they learn self-reliance and the spirit of the traditional Cree way of life. Repeated on Thursdays at 5:30 p.m.

Plains Beading Workshop Series January 15, 2004, January 15: 4–7 p.m. January 17: noon–4 p.m. Education Classroom George Gustav Heye Center, New York Join Amy Tall Chief (Osage), NMAI cultural interpreter, as she conducts a two-day series on Plains beadwork from beginner to intermediate levels. Participants will tour the Legends of Our Time exhibition to look at examples of beadwork and design. Please note that the beads are small and good eyesight and hand-eye coordination are required. Enrollment is limited. Advance registration is required. Call (212) 514–3714. Materials fee is $20 ($16 for members). Ages 16 years and up.