February 26, 2012
Changing Interpretations of Native American and Western History
The former curator at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History is special guest of the Conversations at BSC series Sunday, Feb. 26, at Bismarck State College.
Joining BSC President Larry C. Skogen and national humanities scholar Clay Jenkinson is Herman Viola, nationally recognized authority on the Lewis and Clark Expedition and the history and culture of the American West. They will exchange thoughts on "Changing Interpretations of Native American and Western History" for the program that begins at 3 p.m. in BSC's Sidney J. Lee Auditorium. Questions and comments from the audience will complete the conversation.
A specialist on the American Indian, Viola will begin this conversation with a presentation on his recent book, "Warriors in Uniform: The Legacy of American Indian Heroism," published by the National Geographic Society. He will dissect how Western history, the place of Indians in American history, and the future of those historical interpretations are changing and why.
"Warriors in Uniform" is an illustrated history about American Indian military service from the 1700s to present day Iraq and Afghanistan. The book reveals little known cultural insights, how the warrior designation is a great honor among Native Americans, and how ancient traditions of war persevere. Included is a gallery of never-before-seen artifacts from personal collections.
"We're delighted that Dr. Viola will be visiting our campus. He's a titan in American Indian history," Skogen said. "His many publications and his work with the Smithsonian Institution have earned him the respect of scholars and Native American communities. In many ways, he's become a respected cultural broker working across cultures to increase awareness and understanding among those in the white and Native American worlds."
Viola founded the scholarly journal "Prologue" at the National Archives and was director of the museum's National Anthropological Archives, which kept the first American Indian records. He has written more than a dozen history books on war, American Indians, exploration of America, and America at the time of Columbus.
During his 25 years at the Smithsonian, Viola developed two landmark exhibits. He curated "Seeds of Change," a multicultural examination of impact from Columbus' discoveries (one of the most attended exhibits in the Smithsonian's history); and "Magnificent Voyagers: The Story of the U.S. Exploring Expedition of 1838-1842." The latter exhibit took four years to compile and toured six American cities as was one of the Smithsonian's largest temporary exhibits.
Viola has been an educator, college professor, curriculum developer, and a consultant to numerous museums and educational organizations. They include the Brookings Institution, National Museum of the American Indian and Library of Congress. His book, "Little Bighorn Remembered: the Untold Indian Story of Custer's Last Stand" was adapted for a History Channel special.
Funding for Viola's appearance is provided by Whiting Petroleum Corporation and Sheila Schafer through the Bismarck State College Foundation.