The Indian To-day: The Past and Future of the First AmericanEastman, Charles A.
History
The Indian To-day: The Past and Future of the First American
Eastman, Charles A.
Indians of North America
This native skill combined with love of the work and perfect
sincerity--the qualities which still make the Indian woman's blanket or
basket or bowl or moccasins of the old type so highly prized--are among
the precious things lost or sacrificed to the advance of an alien
civilization. Cheap machine-made garments and utensils, without beauty
or durability, have crowded out the old; and where the women still ply
their ancient trade, they do it now for money, not for love, and in most
cases use modern materials and patterns, even imported yarns and
"Diamond dyes!" Genuine curios or antiques are already becoming very
rare, except in museums, and sometimes command fabulous prices. As the
older generation passes, there is danger of losing altogether the secret
of Indian art and craftsmanship.
MODERN INDIAN ART
Struck by this danger, and realizing the innate charm of the work and
its adaptability to modern demands, a few enthusiasts have made of late
years an effort to preserve and extend it, both in order that a
distinctive and vitally American art-form may not disappear, and as a
means of self-support for Indian women. Depots or stores have been
established at various points for the purpose of encouraging such
manufactures and of finding a market for them, not so much from
commercial as from artistic and philanthropic motives. The best known,
perhaps, is the Mohonk Lodge, Colony, Oklahoma, founded under the
auspices of the Mohonk Indian Conference, where all work is guaranteed
of genuine Indian make, and, as far as possible, of native material and
design. Such articles as bags, belts, and moccasins are, however, made
in modern form so as to be appropriate for wear by the modern woman.
Miss Josephine Foard assisted the women of the Laguna pueblo to glaze
their wares, thereby rendering them more salable; and the Indian
Industries League, with headquarters in Boston, works along similar
lines.
The Indian Bureau reports that over $600,000 worth of Navajo blankets
were made during the last year, and that prizes will be awarded this
fall for the best blankets made of native wool. At Pima $15,000 worth of
baskets and $5,000 worth of pottery was made and sold, and a less amount
was produced at several other agencies.
Another modern development, significant of the growing appreciation of
what is real and valuable in primitive culture, is the instruction of
the younger generation in the Government schools in the traditional arts
and crafts of their people. As schooling is compulsory between the ages
of six and sixteen years, and from the more distant boarding-schools the
pupils are not even allowed to go home for the summer vacation, most of
them would otherwise grow up in ignorance of their natural heritage, in
legend, music, and art forms as well as practical handicrafts. The
greatest difficulty in the way is the finding of competent and
sympathetic teachers.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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