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MUSIC
Exploring Native American influence on the blues

Musicians and scholars hear familiar rhythms in the roots of the quintessential American art form, inspiring discussion and performances at the museum

By Katherine Fogden, National Museum of the American Indian.
Murray Porter, Mohawk, leads the Rez Bluez All-Starz in concert at the museum. In his signature tune “Colours,” Porter sings, “He’s a red man, singing the black man’s blues, living in a white man’s world.”

By Katherine Fogden, National Museum of the American Indian
George Leach, Sta’atl’imx, won Best Male Artist of the Year and Best Rock Album at the Canadian Aboriginal Music Awards in 2000 for his debut album, “Just Where I’m At.” Denis Rondeau plays bass behind Leach at a National Museum of the American Indian’s Summer Showcase concert.

By Katherine Fogden, National Museum of the American Indian
Blues singer and bass player Shakti Hayes, Plains Cree, of the Rez Bluez All-Starz performs at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian with guitarist Beaver Thomas, Plains Cree from the Cowessess First Nation. Thomas has opened for country star Dwight Yoakam.

By Katherine Fogden, National Museum of the American Indian
Corey Harris, performing at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian, is a student of anthropology and linguistics, and MacArthur Foundation “genius grant” recipient. Harris, who is Cherokee, Creek and Chickasaw, said, “Africans being taken in by Native American communities was always spoken of in our families….You couldn’t see it in a book, but it was passed down through families.”

By Katherine Fogden, National Museum of the American Indian
The Carolina Chocolate Drops—Dom Flemons on four-string banjo, guitar, jug, harmonica, kazoo, snare drum, and bones; and Rhiannon Giddens and Justin Robinson on fiddle and five-string banjo—strive to carry on the traditional music of the communities of the Carolina Piedmont. The band, shown here in its performance at the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian performance, recently worked with Tuscarora singer Pura Fe to explore links between Native American and African American music.

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PEOPLE
Fellowship focuses on conservation

Anne Gunnison’s Mellon Foundation project is to protect the plastic materials in a colorful mobile by Dunne-za Nation artist Brian Jungen

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ART
Artists sought for December Art Market

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EDUCATION
Navajo student draws on family to win emerging artist award

Macklin Becenti, 19, of Pine Springs, Ariz., credits his skill at portraits to his family’s mastery of traditional arts

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The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian is located in Washington, D.C., New York City and Suitland, Md. View online exhibitions at www.AmericanIndian.si.edu

The American Indian News Service is edited by Kara Briggs, a Yakama and Snohomish journalist. She owns Red Hummingbird Media Corp., which is contracted by the National Museum of the American Indian to provide this service. Contact her at editor@nmaie-newservice.com or by phone at 503-577-0012.

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Kara Briggs, Editor
Eileen Maxwell, National Museum of the American Indian, Director of Public Affairs
Leonda Levchuk, National Museum of the American Indian Copy Editor
Sarah E. Smith, Red Hummingbird Media Corp., Copy Editor
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