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History meets art in Kiowa chronicles
Tribal calendar-keepers recorded a century of culture
"One Hundred Summers: A Kiowa Calendar Record" will be on exhibit through Aug. 23 at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma, Norman.
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
Published: 7/13/2009 2:21 AM
Last Modified: 7/13/2009 5:46 AM
Consider putting a calendar on your calendar this summer.
Through Aug. 23, you and your family have the rare opportunity to view "One Hundred Summers: A Kiowa Calendar Record" at the Sam Noble Oklahoma Museum of Natural History at the University of Oklahoma, 2401 Chautauqua Ave., in Norman.
It's a collection of calendar art by renowned Kiowa artist and calendar-keeper Silver Horn — 100 years of Kiowa tribal history, which took more than a year to restore.
"We don't have that many documents that provide us with Native American perspective," said Dan Swan, curator of ethnology at the museum.
The calendar uses pictures to represent events in the Kiowa tribe's history — a period that, from 1828 to 1929, "essentially runs from pre-horse buffalo-hunting days to air travel," Swan said.
Each year is represented by two images — one for summer, the other for winter, according to information from the museum. Events depicted in the calendar are agreed upon by tribal elders, and drawn and maintained by designated tribal calendar-keepers. Originally kept on hides or cloth, the records were eventually copied into ledgers.
Silver Horn, born in 1860, was one of those calendar-keepers, as was his father and brother. He created hundreds of drawings representing Kiowa history before his death in 1940.
Few documents were left providing an internal perspective of Kiowa culture, Swan said, which makes the calendar such an important object.
The art was donated to the museum in 2001 by Nelia Mae Roberts, he said. She ran an Indian trading post in Anadarko, and her niece, Marcia Bassity, gave them the collection upon her aunt's death.
Powerful events are represented in the calendar, Swan said. "In some ways, this is a testament to cultural survival."
It's one more testament that "Native Americans aren't victims of the colonial experience, they're survivors."
The collection is quite rare and fragile, and will not be displayed frequently, Swan said. This might be the last chance in a long time for people to see it before the exhibit ends next month.
Work up an
appetite?
The museum’s
Redbud Cafe offers
sandwiches,
salads, soups,
breads, pastries
and coffee. It
also serves
complimentary
Wi-Fi.
Cafe hours
are from 10
a.m.-3 p.m.
Tuesday through
Saturday.
For more,
including orders
for box lunches
or reservations
for 20 or more,
call (405) 325-
8454.
ONE HUNDRED SUMMERS: A KIOWA CALENDAR RECORD
What: Exhibit featuring
rare Kiowa
ledger art
When: 10 a.m.-5
p.m. Monday-
Saturday until
Aug. 23
Where: Sam Noble
Oklahoma Museum
of Natural
History, University
of Oklahoma
Norman campus,
2401 Chautauqua
Ave.
Admission: $5 for
adults, $4 ages
65 and older, $3
children ages
6-17, free for
children 5 and
younger, as well
as OU students
For more: Call
(405) 325-4712;
or visit tulsaworld.com/snomnh.
Jason Ashley Wright 581-8483
jason.wright@tulsaworld.com
By JASON ASHLEY WRIGHT World Scene Writer
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