Song for the Horse Nation

Stardate 65477.8


12:02 - Living a few blocks from the National Mall yields many benefits: spectacular views, great kickball and picnic spots, and free museums. The most unique museum in our National Mall is the National Museum of the American Indian (NMAI), housing artifacts and histories of many American Indian communities across North and South America.  As part of the ever changing NMAI, a new exhibit, Song for the Horse Nation, caught my eye, and last Monday, we visited.   Having not learned much about American Indians outside of those who lived in Texas, I marveled at the building that was charged with holding the spirit of the American Indians as long as the moon shall rise.

Reintroduced by Columbus upon stumbling across the Americas, Horses spread throughout the two continents. Unlike their previous their previous Spanish masters, Horses found an ally in the American Indians due to the loyalty and respect shown for the Horses. Without memory of the Horses that roamed over 40 million years before, the American Indian populations did not have a name for these new partners.  Some saw them as elk-like because of their size and build, others saw them as dog-like because of their ability to carry out domestic tasks, and others saw them as a cross between the two animals. Despite lacking a name, the American Indian nations referred to the herds of Horses roaming the land as a Horse nation. A nation separate from their own and to be respected as such.  In a brief period, the Horse nation changed the lives of the American Indians by changing their hunting patterns, freeing up women's time from mundane tasks (thus elevating their rank within society), and giving them freedom to journey across the land. Together the Horse and multitude of Indian Nations galloped over the vast territories of the Americas until they were confined to reservations. While Horses were taken away from the reservations to restrict the movement and power of the American Indians, the connection between the two nations continued as long as the rivers flow.

Evidence of their once mighty alliance lies in the artwork, tremendous bridles and saddles, and legends from both American Indians and whites. We wandered around these artifacts of this seemingly bygone era in awe. The talent and passion that went into creating each piece, whether it was a horse mask or story passed down from generations ago, leaves one astounded and wanting to know more. A paticular piece drew my notice because of its uniqueness and difficulty to make; a horse mask made from a American Buffalo hide seemed both fearsome and marvelous at the same time. Having been face to face with a Buffalo, I know the power of that animal and its ability to intimidate. To be able to hunt this animal and have the skills to turn their hide into artwork takes a whole nother level of skill. Such skill could never be reproduced or recreated as long as the sun will shine.

Today, we see the proof of the American Indians' presence in the life of the Horse nation. American Indians help to breed into existance  new types/breeds of Horses. The U.S. still uses many of these breeds and are considered the most popular in our nation. While the American Quarter Horse and Appaloosa gallop across the U.S., the alliance between the American Indian and Horse nations remains alive as long as the grass shall grow.

This exhibit will remain in the NMAI until January 7th, 2013.

'Eager to learn about the world' Focus Foxies in attendance: Rob