The first Americans

Abstract

National Museum of the American IndianSmithsonian. National Mall, Washington, DC, USA. Free.For decades, film sagas set in the “Wild West” portrayed the first inhabitants of the Americas as ignorant savages. A few weeks ago, the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, marked a milestone in celebrating a rich and ancient heritage. The historical narratives of Native American tribes reveal a 10 000-year-old culture of creation myths, seasonal rituals, man's relationship to the animals and plants that share his world, and respect for the powers of nature.This unified world view shaped all aspects of Native American life, including medicine and healing. Long before psychology was offered in western medical curricula, Native American medicine men urged introspection, community support, and heavenly intervention to treat depression and antisocial behaviour. As I marvelled at the beauty of rare artefacts that survived the frenzy of indiscriminate European destruction, I began to wonder who was the ignorant party in the past 500 years of confrontation. Atonement for genocide has become a powerful motivation for creating modern museums. This one offers an assertive challenge to traditional stereotypes and invites a deeper appreciation of all that was lost, and all that yet survives. National Museum of the American Indian Smithsonian. National Mall, Washington, DC, USA. Free. For decades, film sagas set in the “Wild West” portrayed the first inhabitants of the Americas as ignorant savages. A few weeks ago, the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC, marked a milestone in celebrating a rich and ancient heritage. The historical narratives of Native American tribes reveal a 10 000-year-old culture of creation myths, seasonal rituals, man's relationship to the animals and plants that share his world, and respect for the powers of nature. This unified world view shaped all aspects of Native American life, including medicine and healing. Long before psychology was offered in western medical curricula, Native American medicine men urged introspection, community support, and heavenly intervention to treat depression and antisocial behaviour. As I marvelled at the beauty of rare artefacts that survived the frenzy of indiscriminate European destruction, I began to wonder who was the ignorant party in the past 500 years of confrontation. Atonement for genocide has become a powerful motivation for creating modern museums. This one offers an assertive challenge to traditional stereotypes and invites a deeper appreciation of all that was lost, and all that yet survives.