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Tinker celebrates Native American heritage

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  • By April McDonald
  • Tinker Public Affairs
TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla. --  The Tinker Inter-Tribal Council celebrated its 35-year history and Native American Heritage Month with a luncheon Nov. 8 at the Tinker Club. The heritage month's theme is "Native American Heritage Expressed Through Art."

Col. Steven Bleymaier, 72nd Air Base Wing and Tinker installation commander, said Native Americans have contributed mightily to the United States and have served honorably in the U.S. military at a higher percentage of their population than any other ethnic group.

"We've all heard of the Native American Code Talkers in World War II and many other contributions that Native Americans have made," he said. "They provide a rich heritage and culture that is a part of American history that all of us can learn from."

Guest speaker Kricket Rhoads-Connywerdy, the executive director of Jacobson House Native Art Center at the University of Oklahoma, described the history of Native American artwork.

Ms. Rhoads-Connywerdy, a native of Caddo and Kiowa tribes, said Native American art became popular around the world due to the efforts of Oscar Jacobson, the founder of Jacobson House.

Around 1915, the University of Oklahoma asked Mr. Jacobson to move from Seattle to Norman and start the art school. On the way, the Jacobson family stopped at the Santa Fe Indian School in New Mexico and Mr. Jacobson fell in love with Native American art.
Though it was not considered "art" at the time, Ms. Rhoads-Connywerdy said Mr. Jacobson had a vast pool of Native American artists he could pull from as people came to Indian Territory from around the country.

Things changed in 1928 when Mr. Jacobson took some of the artwork to Prague, Czechoslovakia, and entered it in an international fine art exhibition.

"Native American art was still not considered 'fine art,'" Ms. Rhoads-Connywerdy said. "He didn't know if he was going to fall flat on his face or be seen as a visionary. But, when the doors opened and people saw it, they loved this style of artwork and it was recognized as fine art. This was a catalyst for the International Native American Fine Art movement."

She said soon, many Native American artists wanted to study art at OU because they knew they would have the opportunity to be recognized as fine artists.

"What I hope you take away from this today is that we don't have to be put in this little box," she said. "We can create any type of art, not just painting. Our beadwork, our feather work, pottery, basket weaving -- all these different styles of art change with the times. We can pull from our traditions and be traditional or we can be abstract. With the diversity you see here, each tribe, each person has his own unique way of doing things."

Colonel Bleymaier said besides the vast heritage in Oklahoma, military members have multiple opportunities throughout their careers to experience Native American cultures and heritages firsthand.

The colonel said while his family was stationed at Mountain Home Air Force Base, Idaho, they were invited to observe and participate in the annual Shoshone Paiute Tribe Powwow Celebration at the Duck Valley Indian Reservation.

"I remember the dozens of traditional dances the group performed which honored freedom and those who lost their lives trying to obtain it," he said. "Wherever you currently call home, make time to find out about the local Native American tribes and learn about their contributions to America past and present, as well as their heritage and culture. I know for my family it has given us a better appreciation for this land we call home."