This proposal requests support for an exhibition on Native cultures of Alaska and Siberia for travel to Native and non- Native communities in rural Alaska. The exhibition consists of 200 small artifacts from Siberian and Alaskan archeological and ethnographic museum collections, archival photographs, Native craft and traditional arts, 20th century graphic arts, and videos. Curriculum packets and educational materials and videos will be prepared for use in the exhibition venues. These instructional materials, including an exhibit catalogue, will be designed to serve as "stand-alone" components as well. The Smithsonian Arctic Studies Center has selected "Crossroads of Continents *RFD Alaska" as a prototype project that will lead toward establishing standards for museum-based educational outreach programs for use in native communities in rural regions where professionally staffed museums usually do not exist. This goal is especially challenging in Alaska, where distances are great, population centers are small, and there are unique problems of transportation, communication, security, and language to be overcome. The project is an ideal one in that much of the basic research for the exhibition has already been accomplished. What is needed now is to develop a Native education component and local initiatives to accompany the core exhibit, and to produce the exhibition and the exhibition catalogue. Once developed, the experience of this project will serve to guide future programs not only in Alaska, but also throughout the Circumpolar North.
The Museums of the Rockies will develop a 2450 sq. ft. exhibit titled Landforms/Lifeforms and complementary educational materials including teacher enhancement activities, outreach trunks, and other programming. The exhibit will serve as the pivotal experience for visitors as they engage the museum's theme One Place Through All Of Time and it serve to introduce all other permanent exhibit galleries. Using the important and spectacular geological and paleontological resources of the region and the museum's collections, the exhibit will bring to life the concept of the evolution and diversification of life in response to changing geological conditions from the Precambrian to the end of the Mesozoic. Visitors will experience the Northern Rocky Mountain Region and the life supported by that region over time. Critical thinking skills of visitors will be stimulated with the purpose of enhancing their overall science literacy. The exhibit is designed to promote adult-child interaction. Special attention is being given to attracting a rural audience. Complementary programming aimed at K-12 students and teachers will be developed. The content of these activities will address the goals set forth in Montana's systemic initiative and the Systemic Teacher Excellence Preparation program. The educational materials will also be shared with member museums in the Mid-Continent University Natural History Museum Consortium.
DATE:
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TEAM MEMBERS:
Arthur WolfShelly WhitmanBeth MerrickBonnie Sachatello-SawyerSharon Horrigan