The High Desert Museum celebrates American Indian history

Published 4:00 am Sunday, January 8, 2006

Volunteer Alex Fulton helped 9-year-old Miranda Holt fold a piece of paper in an American Indian-style ”purse” Saturday morning at The High Desert Museum just south of Bend.

Holt, with friends Zachary, 6, and Erick Lang, 8, were trying out one of the crafts offered during the museum’s ”Native American Day.” Weather and traffic conspired to significantly delay the day’s star attraction, dancers from Warm Springs. Samish tribe member Molly Kubista gave a short dance performance before the scheduled dancers arrived.

Kubista, a local artist, was at the museum to display and sell her canvases and jewelry, while Warm Springs elder and historian George Aguilar Sr. gave an educational lecture.

Teen volunteers, including Fulton, helped children try out crafts adapted from traditional games and activities.

”It’s nice people support our native arts and dances,” Kubista said after her impromptu performance, explaining that she and many others make a living off artwork or performances.

She said her shows are as much history lesson as art show, because she often explains how traditional art forms have been adapted in her work.

”(Viewers) enjoy your art but they’re also getting educated on history and culture,” Kubista said.

Sharon Goodmonsen, who organized the event, said she wasn’t surprised at the high turnout Saturday.

”I think Native American culture is of great interest to people who live here, and tends to be underrepresented,” she said.

Goodmonsen said the day helps spotlight the museum’s permanent exhibit on American Indians who lived in the High Desert before white settlers arrived.

She said the American Indian theme will be reprised on Saturday, Jan. 21, in an event featuring more crafts and aimed specifically at children, sponsored by Brooks Resources.

Although several of the activities on Saturday were child-centered, it didn’t stop Salem resident Kimberly Consalbi, 24, from braiding rope by moistening and twisting strands of raffia together.

Consalbi, who was visiting family in Culver, said she came to the museum because she’d heard about the planned dance performance.

”I actually am part Cherokee blood, so I thought it’d be fun to come down, learn a little bit,” she said.

While her husband, 1-year-old son and in-laws wandered the museum, she stayed at the craft tables.

”I love to craft,” Consalbi explained. ”I’ve done so much before, it’s fun to learn new stuff. Especially things that maybe my ancestors did.”

Ashley Wellert, 12, of Bend, said she preferred looking at exhibits to the craft tables, but added she enjoyed watching her younger sisters making folded paper ”purses.”

She said she liked looking at the traditional tools and the dance regalia on display.

”I like learning about the Native Americans and the history,” she said.

Her mother, Chris, added, ”I think it’s terrific that they even have a day here where they honor Native Americans and all their different traditions.”

contact info

* For more information or an event schedule, contact The High Desert Museum at 382-4754 or go to www.highdesert museum.org.