Mending the Ecological Rift: MC Sociology Students visit the National Museum of the American Indian!

Dr. Dan Wilson,

Professor of Sociology

It was a cold morning in November but, fortunately, it was sunny with blue skies. A perfect day for visiting the National Mall and National Museum of the American Indian.  Strange, I could not remember feeling this nervous anytime recently. I had not been with students in person in a long while, so I was feeling a bit out of practice.  I was very careful with planning the trip to encourage the students to attend: reminders, maps, bus/train schedules, weather updates, recommended shoes, nearest food trucks, etc.; however, I had to keep in mind that this class is an asynchronous/online format. Many students did not have the ability to travel to D.C. or were not living in the area.  Would anyone show up? Would they enjoy the museum? Hmm…At this point there wasn’t much else to do except to enjoy the ride, D.C., and, of course, the destination: NMAI!

I planned to meet the students at the east entrance so we would have a chance to look at the wetland area, the outside sculptures, and the food gardens to the north.  I did not see anyone looking like “college students” outside the front doors – although what does a college student really look like?:) I moved to the edge of the doors, held up my homemade MC – SOCY 100 sign and waited.  After a few minutes, several of my students had arrived, and I was overjoyed.  We spent a few minutes outside getting to know each other and exploring the gardens.  They were extremely impressed by the outside architecture of the building as was I – quite a sight and great for photographing.  As we moved through security and into the lobby, we were greeted by informative plaques detailing each of the exhibits we would be seeing as we moved upstairs. The lobby ceiling, 4 stories high, was as wonderful as the exterior complete with prisms installed in the windows that sent rainbows across the lobby. There was also a beautiful ~15-foot-high totem pole, which the students were excited to photograph. The totem pole was carved by David Boxley and features an eagle (the symbol of Boxley’s clan), a chief holding salmon, and a group of villagers.

As we moved up into the exhibit floors (floors 3 and 4), we became transfixed by the powerful art, artifacts, and the stories they hold.  Of particular interest to the students was the bronze sculpture “Future Clone” by Fritz Scholder, which was featured in the film “Black Swan,” the breathtaking Preston Singletary exhibit, “Raven and the Box of Daylight”, and “Traditional Knowledge Shapes Our World” exhibit, which demonstrated the many different views of the environment that Native peoples possess.

After 4 hours of learning, reading, looking, discussing, and sharing a few laughs, we thought it might be time to give our feet a rest and head on home (not before peeking at the amazing jewelry in the gift shop!).