On the Cover
Ceramic artist Kathleen Wall (Jemez Pueblo) models a Penny Singer (Dine) vest with turtle and lightning motifs. See story on page 58. Photo by Penny Singer.

FEATURES

White Metal:
The Roots of Native American Silversmithing
The most elemental and oldest form of modern Indian jewelry-making focuses on silver, dubbed “white metal” by its earliest Navajo artisans. We present an in-depth look at the evolution of this fine art and more than 15 artists practicing its discipline today. Plus, tips on buying fine silverwork. By Dr. Gregory Schaaf (Cherokee).

Jaguar: Sacred Cat of the Americas
Since time immemorial, the jaguar has held an elevated position in the social and spiritual realms of the Native peoples of the Americas. We take a look, in text and images, at this phenomenon, plus give details on the animal’s current status and sources of additional information. By Richard Mahler.

Brave New Worlds:
Indigenous Animation Movement Rising
A new generation of Indian graphic artists brings storytelling to a new moving-image medium, from a series airing on Canadian television to one-of-a-kind productions. By Kade Twist (Cherokee).

Rising Stars Chart Their Own Path
The stars are lining up for two Santa Fe Indian Market artists, apparel designer and textile artist Penny Singer (Diné) and accomplished potter Russell Sanchez (San Ildefonso Pueblo). By Gregory Pleshaw.

Lives of Achievement
The Southwestern Association for Indian Arts annually honors a handful of people for a lifetime of achievement in the Native arts. Read our profiles of some of this year’s designees, including weaver Pearl Sunrise (Diné), sculptor Michael Naranjo (Santa Clara Pueblo), weaver Lydia Pesata (Jicarilla Apache) and gallery founder/owner Tony Reyna (Taos Pueblo). By Gussie Fauntleroy.

Gary Farmer: Contemporary Cultural Visionary
Gary Farmer wears many hats—film and television actor, radio and television producer, publisher, blues musician, gallery owner and social activist—all with a smile. By Margaret Archuleta (Tewa/Hispanic). Photo by Larry McNeil (Tlingit).

DEPARTMENTS

Letters
Readers write about some dealing with “wannabe” Indians; also, we issue an apology the Hopi people.

On The Wind
A major new Indian gallery, Legends, opens in Santa Fe; sculptor Joe Cajero creates a monumental work; and the Heard Museum opens a new branch facility in Scottsdale. Also, other important news in the arts, education, the environment, business, politics, sports, health and other realms of life in Indian Country. By Daniel Gibson.

Happening
Film buffs and party lovers won’t want to miss the eighth annual imagineNATIVE Film+ Media Arts Festival in Toronto in October. Plus details on other special events of Native interest across North America. By Daniel Gibson.

Spirit of the Harvest
Feast on some fabulous grilled quail with a chile and honey glaze over a bed of greens, following the recipe of Walter Whitewater (Diné) and Lois Ellen Frank (Kiowa) of Red Mesa Cuisine. By Beverly Cox and Martin Jacobs.

Pathways
Navajo trading posts have a rich and interesting history. This issue, we hit the road to visit nine notable existing posts and provide details on another 18 that are still standing. By Bruce Hucko. Photos by Bruce Hucko, with historic images from the National Park Service.

History
We continue our “Great Chiefs” series with a look at the extraordinary life of the great Comanche leader Quanah Parker.
By Harlan McKosato (Sauk/Ioway). Painting by Nocona Burgess, plus historic photo.

Collections
We drop in on the Santa Fe home of JoAnn and Bob Balzer for a look at their stunning array of Native arts. By Hollis Walker. Photos by Kitty Leaken.

Galleries
Once you step inside, you might not want to leave the home-like warmth of River Trading Post in Santa Fe. Also, brief looks at other Native-oriented galleries throughout the continent. By Russ Tall Chief (Osage).

Museums
The Acoma Pueblo people have created a handsome new museum and cultural center, the Haak’u Museum, at the foot
of their age-old mesa-top village in west-central New Mexico. Also, notes on museum exhibitions coast to coast. By Wendy Weston (Diné).

Moving Images
Our newly renamed department (formerly Film & Video) takes a look at television programming, recently released DVDs, films on the film festival circuit and other news of moving image media and its makers. By Daniel Gibson.

Music
We spin the records of Davis Mitchell (Diné) and chat with this second-generation musician, whose life has been inspired by his father and heritage. Plus, listen to new works by Kelvin Mockingbird (Sacred Fire), Pima Express (Time Waits for No One) and Native Roots (Celebrate). By j poet.

Books
A new take on an old subject, this time based on oral history, is revealed in The True Story of Pocahontas: The Other Side of History, by Dr. Linwood “Little Bear” Custalow (Mattaponi) and Angela L. David “Silver Star.” And, we skim through Louis Sockalexis: Native American Baseball Pioneer (a children’s book ages 6-12), by Bill Wise. Plus other recently published titles of interest. By Deborah Utacia Krol (Salinan/Esselen).