D.C. Mounted Police and Crow Nation Equestrian Celebrate Horses on the Mall

National Museum of the American Indian Opens Exhibition with Color Guard Ceremony

WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- To celebrate the opening of "A Song for the Horse Nation," a major exhibition that traces the horse's influence on American Indian tribes, the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian welcomes the D.C. Mounted Police and equestrian and artist Kennard Real Bird (Crow), who will present the U.S. and Crow Nation flags on horseback Saturday, Oct. 29 at 3 p.m. on the museum's outdoor Welcome Plaza. Following the presentation of the colors, singer K.J. Jacks (Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma) will perform the U.S. national anthem.

Other activities include demonstrations by award-winning bead worker and porcupine quill worker Juanita Fogarty Growing Thunder (Assiniboine/Sioux), whose horse mask is featured in the exhibition, and hands-on workshops for children featuring Plains-style ledger art. Exhibition curator Emil Her Many Horses (Oglala Lakota) will sign copies of the exhibition book he co-wrote with George P. Horse Capture (A'aninin), the museum's senior counselor to the director emeritus.  Children's book author and illustrator S.D. Nelson (Lakota/Standing Rock Sioux) will also host a book signing for his latest title, Black Elk's Vision: A Lakota Story, along with special storytelling sessions and a lecture on the cultural and historical significance of painted horses and symbols.

The workshop, "How to Dress a Horse," uses a full-size horse mannequin in spectacular regalia, and Cody Harjo (Seminole/Otoe/Creek), a cultural interpreter for the museum, will offer special gallery talks in the exhibition on the half hour all weekend.

The museum has also partnered with the Washington International Horse Show, which commemorates its 53rd year Oct. 25-30 at the Verizon Center. Together, the two organizations will celebrate these occasions with free family programs at the Verizon Center Saturday, Oct. 29 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Family programs include a live pony painting demonstration with Real Bird, 15-minute book readings with Nelson and workshops on Plains-style ledger art with museum staffers. A free shuttle service between the museum and the Verizon Center will be provided by Reston Limousine on Saturday.

"A Song for the Horse Nation," runs through Jan. 7, 2013. For the full schedule of weekend events, including times and locations, visit http://bit.ly/ruBTZb.

Media only: Eileen Maxwell, [email protected], (202) 633-6615
Leonda Levchuk, [email protected], (202) 633-6613
Media website: http://AmericanIndian.si.edu/press/horses

SOURCE Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian

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