Smithsonian Institution. Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage Search this
Type:
Archival materials
Date:
June 30-July 8, 1973
Introduction:
Ten tribes of Northern Plains Indians, from the States of North and South Dakota, Montana and Wyoming, were represented in the Native Americans section of the 1973 Festival. Their participation marked the fourth year of a six-year plan to include Indians of a different region at each Festival, with the Bicentennial Festival to feature the entire country.
Past and present culture and lifestyles of American Indians were explored in these presentations, which included samplings of traditional culture that continue to be central to life within Indian communities. Through workshop sessions, crafts demonstrations, song and dance, Indians demonstrated their traditions. Members of the featured tribes worked with the Festival staff as field coordinators to help plan, develop and carry out the program.
Indian participation in the Festival was both an opportunity for Festival visitors to become acquainted with Indian people and also an opportunity for Indian people to speak about both contemporary and traditional concerns. Among those concerns and priorities are a respect for the land, respect and care of their older members, and an arts tradition that realizes and reflects the role of man in nature.
Clydia Nahwooksy served as Director of the Indian Awareness Program, assisted by Tom Kavanagh. Major sponsors were the U.S. Department of Commerce and U.S. Office of Education.
Participants:
Frank Backbone, 1917-2005, Crow, singer, Crow Agency, Montana
Pearl Backbone, 1922-1992, Crow, bead worker, Crow Agency, Montana
Ann Bigman, 1922-1999, Crow, bead worker, Crow Agency, Montana
Hugh Little Owl, 1910-1991, Crow, flute maker, Crow Agency, Montana
Kevin Red Star, Crow, tipi painter, Billings, Montana
John Bear Medicine, Blackfeet, doll maker, Browning, Montana
Willy Eagle Plume, Blackfeet, drum maker, Fort Macleod, Alberta
Joan Heavy Runner, Blackfeet, cradleboard maker
Tom Heavy Runner, Blackfeet, tipi sewer
Adolf Hungry Wolf, Blackfeet, singer, Fort Macleod, Alberta
Collection Restrictions:
Access to the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections is by appointment only. Visit our website for more information on scheduling a visit or making a digitization request. Researchers interested in accessing born-digital records or audiovisual recordings in this collection must use access copies.
Collection Rights:
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be requested from the Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections. Please visit our website to learn more about submitting a request. The Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections make no guarantees concerning copyright or other intellectual property restrictions. Other usage conditions may apply; please see the Smithsonian's Terms of Use for more information.
Collection Citation:
Smithsonian Folklife Festival records: 1973 Festival of American Folklife, Ralph Rinzler Folklife Archives and Collections, Smithsonian Institution.
