Partly Cloudy   100.0F  |  Forecast »
Bookmark and Share Email this page Email Print this page Print

2010 November/December Table of Contents

ON THE COVER

An unidentified Nez Perce man photographed by Edward S. Curtis proudly wears a typical tribal headdress (see related story p. 28). Curtis first published the image in his impressive tribute The North American Indian (Seattle, WA, 1907-30, v. 8, p. 4. Library of Congress, Prints & Photographs Division, LC-USZ62-113086).

FEATURES

Holiday Gift Guide 
Unwrap our annual Holiday Gift Guide to reveal a wide range of distinctive, Native-inspired selections, from one-of-a-kind pottery vessels, paintings and jewelry to select books, CDs and other gift ideas for your winter celebrations.

Feather Headdresses
The most iconic of Native American material goods is the feather headdress. We explore the historic roots of these powerful and beautiful objects, analyze their meanings and elements, and profile some Native artisans crafting them today. By Robert Alison (Cree/Anishinaabe).

America’s First Warriors
A photo essay culled from the book of the same title by photographer and author 
Steven Clevenger (Osage) explores Native Americans' participation in the Iraq War.

The Mighty Leaf: Tobacco
Scourge or sacred ceremonial plant? We explore tobacco’s history and uses among Indians. By Harlan McKosato (Sac & Fox).
 

DEPARTMENTS

Letters
Among other letters, one reader questions the use of the term Indigenous as applied to Europeans; another writes to support Virginia tribes' quest for federal recognition.

On The Wind
The New England Foundation for the Arts facilitates Indian-artist travel exchanges. Plus, important news in the arts, education, environment, business, politics, sports, health and other realms of life in Indian Country. By Daniel Gibson.

Happening
We push into the Everglades of south-central Florida to attend the annual American Indian Art Celebration at the Seminole Tribe’s Ah-Tah-Thi-Ki Museum. Plus details on other special events of Native interest across North America. By Daniel Gibson.

Spirit of the Harvest
The Fort in Colorado serves up tasty foods harking back to the region’s frontier era, as found in this excellent buffalo-based stew and side dish of red potatoes with corn and Anasazi beans. By Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs.

Pathways
Visit the outstanding museum and visitor center on the grounds of the historic 
Makah Village of the Makah Tribe in Washington. By Adrian Jawort (Northern Cheyenne).

History
One of America’s least-known but deadliest conflicts, King Phillip’s War, pitted the early settlers of New England against various tribes in the region led by Metacom. By Gregory McNamee.

Museums
The Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, New York is home to the Eugene and Clare Thaw Collection of American Indian Art, which is now on tour. Also, notes on other museum exhibitions coast to coast. By Wendy Weston (Diné).

Galleries
Kent and Laurie McManis own and operate Grey Dog Trading Company in Tucson, Arizona, where they have amassed a wonderful selection of Southwestern and Plains Indian arts, as well as Inuit carvings. Plus brief looks at other Native-oriented galleries throughout the continent. By Russ Tall Chief (Osage).

Music
The young Samantha Crain (Choctaw) has caught the music industry’s attention with her quirky but compelling vocals and folksy delivery, as heard in her new CD You (Understood). Plus, a review of Micki Free’s latest CD, American Horse. By j. Poet.

Books
Brief looks at a handful of books suitable for holiday unwrapping, including the children’s books Chuck in the City and Just a Walk, written by Jordan Wheeler (Cree) and illustrated by Christopher Auchter (Haida); the young adult novel Dream Catcher by Stella Calahasen (Woodland Cree First Nation); George Flett: Ledger Art by Scott M. Thompson; and the true story of the life of the first Indian dental surgeon, Searching For My Destiny, by George Blue Spruce, Jr. (Laguna Pueblo/Ohkay Owingeh Pueblo) as told to Deanne Durrett. By Debra Utacia Krol (Salinan/Esselen).