Pojoaque governor's sculpture at NMAI

Pueblo governor ventures to U.S. Capitol to see sculpture installed

By Ana Maria TrujilloWhen Pojoaque Pueblo Gov. George Rivera visits Washington, D.C., on tribal business in the future, he'll have a new piece of artwork to enjoy on his long runs around the capital.

His own bronze sculpture, Buffalo Dancer II, will be installed today in front of the Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian.

"It's a great feeling," Rivera said. "It will be nice to see one of my pieces as I'm running by."

The 12-feet-tall, 2,000-pound sculpture depicts a young man performing the Buffalo Dance.

"We've been doing the Buffalo Dance for many years now," Rivera explained. "We celebrate the animal—the buffalo—because it provides food and is part of the well being of the pueblo and it has been for centuries the livelihood of Native Americans across the country."Comment:  For more on the subject, see The Best Indian Movies.