[Heritage] Oregon Heritage News 2008-09-19

[Heritage Info]

In this issue:
1.  Archaeology Celebration schedule released
2.  Ceremonial regalia to be featured in Salem
3.  Cemetery exhibit opens at UO
4.  Military museum seeks assistant


ARCHAEOLOGY CELEBRATION SCHEDULE RELEASED

The discoveries earlier this year of historic ship features and
artifacts along the Oregon coast h ave inspried the choice of maritime
images to promote this year's Oregon Archaeology Celebration.

The posted features a photo of the Peter Iredale, a British four-masted
steel barque taken shortly after it ran aground within present day Fort
Stevens State Park. For more information about the poster and the
printed scheduled of events, contact Jorie Clark at jorie_clark at fws.gov
or Fran Philipeck at fphilipe at or.blm.gov 

Among the celebration's activities are Friday evening programs at 7
p.m. at Smith Rock State Park beginning Sept. 26.  The initial speaker
in the series  will be Brigette Whipple, a tribal anthropologists for
the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs who will present "A Native
American Overview of Northwest History." Smith Rock State Park is
located nine miles northeast of Redmond off of Highway 97.

 
CEREMONIAL REGALIA TO BE FEATURED IN SALEM

A groundbreaking exhibition of historic and contemporary ceremonial
regalia from all nine of Oregon*s federally recognized Native American
tribes, much of which is rarely seen by the general public, will be on
display Sept. 27 to Jan. 18 at the Hallie Ford Museum of Art at
Willamette University.

"The Art of Ceremony: Regalia of Native Oregon, Oregon*s 2008
American Masterpieces project," features what the tribes consider their
finest artwork, items they wear and use in private ceremonies and
rituals. Hand-crafted dance outfits, jewelry, staffs, headdresses,
musical instruments and a 21-foot cedar canoe - many on loan from Native
families across the state - are among the items to be displayed. The
American Masterpieces grant was awarded by the Oregon Arts Commission
with funds from the National Endowment for the Arts.

*Most people have never really seen Oregon*s traditional
regalia,* said Willamette anthropology professor Rebecca Dobkins,
who organized the exhibition in collaboration with Native community
curators. *The only time much of this regalia is worn is during
private events like funerals, feasts or dance ceremonies. These items
are not largely shared outside their community.*

A multitude of free public events will accompany the exhibition,
starting with a Procession of Nations through campus at 3 p.m. Sept. 27
that will include members of all Oregon*s tribes. The procession will
be followed by an opening ceremony at the museum and a traditional
Native American feast on campus. Visitors can watch regalia-makers at
work from 1 to 5 p.m. Sept. 28 at the museum. Tours, films, lectures and
demonstrations are among the other events scheduled throughout the
exhibition.

The Art of Ceremony will showcase the diversity of regalia between
tribes, from the western tribes* use of feathers and abalone shells to
the eastern tribes* beadwork and buckskin. After leaving the Hallie
Ford Museum of Art, the exhibition will travel to the Tamástslikt
Cultural Institute in Pendleton and the Museum at Warm Springs in
central Oregon.

*A lot of people attend intertribal powwows and mistake what they see
there as our traditional dances and regalia,* said Bud Lane, vice
chairman of the tribal council for the Confederated Tribes of Siletz
Indians on the central Oregon coast. *We want people to see that each
tribe has its individual traditions and cultures that vary from region
to region.*

In addition to the American Masterpieces grant, the exhibition is
supported by an endowment gift from The Confederated Tribes of Grand
Ronde through the Spirit Mountain Community Fund, a Millicent McIntosh
Fellowship from the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, a Siletz Tribal
Charitable Contribution Fund award, and by grants from the city of
Salem*s Transient Occupancy Tax funds, the Oregon Arts Commission and
the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation.

The Hallie Ford Museum of Art is located at 700 State St. (corner of
State and Cottage streets) in downtown Salem near the campus of
Willamette University. Hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 10 a.m.-5
p.m. and Sunday from 1-5 p.m.  For more information, call (503) 370-6855
or visit www.willamette.edu/museum_of_art.


CEMETERY EXHIBIT OPENS AT UO

"Science in the News - The Stevens' Family Cemetery Exhibit," featuring
remains discovered at the William M. Stevens' family cemetery, is now on
display at the University of Oregon's Museum of Natural and Cultural
History, 1680 E. 15th Ave., Eugene. The exhibit includes coffin handles,
clothing buttons, nails and screws unearthed during this summer*s
excavation of the Stevens family cemetery. The Stevens are considered
the first pioneering family to have settled in the Springfield area. 

The abandoned cemetery was re-discovered in May when a backhoe operator
unearthed what appeared to be a human bone. Shortly after the discovery,
UO archaeologists were asked to recover and examine the findings.
Artifacts discovered during the excavation include clothing items and
coffin hardware as well as human remains. Information detailing the
history of the site and the recovery process are also included in the
exhibit.

For more information, contact Julie Brown, 541-346-3185,
julbrown at uoregon.edu 


MILITARY MUSEUM SEEKS ASSISTANT

The Oregon Military Museum seeks an experienced Museum Technician.   32
hours a week, annual renewable contract.  Position requires Microsoft
Office suite
computer skills, ability to see full spectrum of colors and to lift 50
pounds.  Experience with museum software, exhibit development, and
artifact housing preferred.  Please submit resume and references to
Tracy Thoennes, Curator, Oregon Military Museum, Camp Withycombe, 10101
SE Clackamas Road, Clackamas OR 97015 or email to:
tracy.thoennes at us.army.mil. 
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which can be contacted at heritage.info at state.or.us