1 minute read
Scott Shoemaker
As a citizen of the Miami tribe of Oklahoma, I have always admired the revitalization work of Maori language activists and artists. My original Creative Renewal activities were centered around traveling to Aotearoa (New Zealand) to meet with indigenous Maori artists, curators, language activists, and teachers on the north and south islands.
During the pandemic, New Zealand halted all travel to and from the country. Fortunately, Scott was able to connect virtually with some of those Maori contacts. In keeping with the spirit of his project, he also made frequent visits to his ancestral village location (Mihtohseenia's Village) near Jalapa, Indiana, along the Mississinewa River. My ancestors established this site in the aftermath of the French and Indian War. It had been attacked by American troops during the War of 1812 and had suffered devastating deaths during a tuberculosis outbreak in 1879. The other area I visited was near Wildcat Creek in Howard County. We know from oral histories that my family was living in a log cabin in this area in the 1830s when it was part of the much larger "Great Miami Reserve.” During his visits, Scott discovered the trees there were the descendants of those that provided for his ancestors, including oonseentia (tulip poplar) and mihšiinkweemiša (bur oak). This inspired him to make commemorative art, in the form of wearing cuffs with beaded abstract leaves. As I connected with others, the same things came up: art and language connect us to the past, give us the strength to adapt to change in the present, and imagine a better future.
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curator scott shoemaker
