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Introduction to the
Exhibit
Harvard University's Peabody Museum of Archaeology and
Ethnology is pleased to announce its "virtual"
exhibition on the traditions of Native American running.
This exhibit is shown on-line and not in physical space such
as a gallery. The use of computer network technology to
present this exhibit, makes it accessible to anyone with
Internet access.
Phase I
The on-line exhibit represents Phase One of a three
phase project that provides a comprehensive look at the
traditions of American Indian running. We are working with
Native American advisors to develop four primary topic
areas: Running in the Past, the Spiritual Significance of
Running, Indian Running Today, and Maps and Timelines. The
Exhibition is curated by Katherine Jones, Assistant Director
for Information Services and Technology, at the Peabody
Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology. Our advisory
group includes Native American runners such as Herman
Agoyo (San Juan Pueblo), Bruce Gomez (Taos Pueblo), and
Tanya Sheka (Zuni Pueblo). We are also working with the
Native American youth development organization, Wings
of America, in the development of the exhibit. Wings
Program Director, Manny Pino (Acoma), is a member of the
advisory committee. The exhibit team works with tribal
communities in the development of the exhibit. The use of
images and materials is cleared with rights holders
(primarily museums and libraries) as well as with the
tribes. We are also pleased to have Peter Nabokov,
anthropologist and author of Indian Running : Native
American History and Tradition as a consultant to the
project.
Phase II
In Phase Two, we will expand the section on Indian
Running Today to include information on Indian runners in a
number of age groups and levels of accomplishment, from
"Junior Roadrunners" at Zuni to Master and Senior Runners
and in events like the Olympics or the Special Olympics. We
are seeking funding to produce a CD-ROM that would combine
the content of Phases One and Two. This CD-ROM product could
be used in educational programs at the Museum of Cultural
and Natural History as well as schools throughout the United
States. We also feel that the subject matter would be of
interest to anyone involved in the sport of running.
Phase III
In Phase Three we will introduce more educational
programming based on the exhibit. We plan to expand the use
of technology in the third phase to include the capability
of videoconferencing over the Internet for school children
in several test locations. The Education Department of the
Museum of Cultural and Natural History will develop
educational programs that incorporate the exhibit. For
example, the exhibit will be used during the summer of 1996
in the Native American Youth Enrichment Program in
discussion about the traditions of running and sports in
Native American communities.
We will be working with the Director of Educational Programs
at the Michael C.
Carlos Museum, Emory University as well as teachers at
the Zuni Elementary School in Zuni, NM and at the San
Jose Elementary School in Jacksonville, FL to develop
collaborative educational programs based on the virtual
exhibit. These schools and the Carlos Museum have access to
the Internet. Adding videoconferencing capabilities at these
locations can be accomplished at a low cost. We can also use
electronic mail to create Internet pen pals (sometime called
"key" pals).
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