July 03, 2007

Indians perform for Mother Earth

The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian Announces 'Mother Earth' in the Spirit of the Live Earth Concerts July 7The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian announced that it will host a special concert event called "Mother Earth" Saturday, July 7, with musical performances and speakers from the scientific and American Indian cultural communities in the spirit of the Live Earth message. Live Earth is a 24-hour, seven-continent concert series that will bring together more than 100 music artists to raise awareness about climate change. As part of this environmental message, the museum will make the broadcast of Mother Earth available to Live Earth.

"There is no more important matter before us than the question of how to live sustainably on the Earth," said Tim Johnson (Mohawk), acting director of the museum. "As an institution of living cultures, the National Museum of the American Indian is committed to elevating human understanding of global climate change through education and cultural performances."

2 comments:

writerfella said...

Writerfella here --
"Acting Director?" What became of Dick West, Jr., whom writerfella has known since Jr. was 14?
In any case, writerfella will eschew such a gathering, as his Kiowan Earth Spirit is The Grandfather...
All Best
Russ Bates
'writerfella'

Rob said...

I was wondering that myself. Here's the answer:

http://www.nmai.si.edu/press/releases/2006_director_retire.pdf

W. Richard West Jr. (Southern Cheyenne), director of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of the American Indian for 17 years, announced his resignation today, effective November 2007.

“I have been privileged to serve as the founding director at the National Museum of the American Indian: a museum that I believe is truly like no other,” West said. “One of my most poignant memories was the museum’s spectacular opening on the National Mall two years ago, when 25,000 Native Americans and non-Native supporters staged what is believed to be the largest gathering of Native Americans in the nation’s capital in modern history.”

West told his staff and the museum’s board of trustees, “Now is the time for the museum to have new leadership, as it embarks on the second phase of its journey. My resignation next year will enable me to take on new special projects and pursue interests that I have yet to explore.”