All posts tagged: Native

Native Influences on America

Native Influences on America

Published by Jenni Sidey

On the 250th anniversary of American independence, it’s important to remember and respect the cultures that flourished on the American continent long before European colonists arrived, and that were tragically disrupted and decimated by the colonists. Nobody knows for sure how many indigenous people inhabited the American continent before Columbus’ arrival in 1492. Estimates range from 45 million to 100 million; the real figure probably lies midway between. But after European contact, the figure declined rapidly, mainly due to the spread of disease and the loss of food sources (both of which were sometimes intentional, such as when colonists killed buffalo and burned crops, or gave Native Americans infected blankets and food). By 1860, there were only 340,000 Native Americans left in North America. The 1920 U.S. Census Bureau counted 244,437 Native Americans. The figure has increased since then; today around 9.7 million Americans identify as solely or partly Native American. One aspect of American history that often isn’t emphasized is the extent to which European colonists were influenced by the ideals and customs of …

Goblin shark filmed in its native habitat for the first time

Goblin shark filmed in its native habitat for the first time

Published by Jenni Sidey

Get the Popular Science daily newsletter💡 Breakthroughs, discoveries, and DIY tips sent six days a week. By signing up, you confirm you are 16+, will receive newsletters and promotional content and agree to our Terms of Use and acknowledge the data practices in our Privacy Policy. You may unsubscribe at any time. The goblin shark (Mitsukurina owstoni) is one of Earth’s rarest and most elusive sharks. It’s also one of the weirdest. With its distinctive, hornlike snout and protrudable jaws, the pink-skinned living fossil is the only surviving representative of a family lineage that dates back nearly 125 million years.  The goblin shark was first identified in 1898, but sightings remain few and far between. The fish typically remain at a depth of around 3,000 feet, and any encounters with humans have been the result of accidental fishing line snags. The 13-foot-long predators also die quickly after reaching the surface. However, marine biologists at the University of Hawaii at Mānoa recently captured videos revealing not one, but two goblin sharks swimming in their native habitats. …

These 12,000-year-old Native American dice are the oldest in the world

These 12,000-year-old Native American dice are the oldest in the world

Published by Miika Tikkanen

artifact: Some human-made object (such as a pot or brick) that can be used as one gauge of a community’s culture or history. colonial: (in geography) An area under full or partial control of another country, typically far away. culture: (n. in social science) The sum total of typical behaviors and social practices of a related group of people (such as a tribe or nation). Their culture includes their beliefs, values and the symbols that they accept and/or use. Culture is passed on from generation to generation through learning. Scientists once thought culture to be exclusive to humans. Now they recognize some other animals show signs of culture as well, including dolphins and primates. diversity: A broad spectrum of similar items, ideas or people. In a social context, it may refer to a diversity of experiences and cultural backgrounds. intellectual: (n.) Someone who spends a good deal of time reasoning and understanding ideas with their mind, especially abstract ideas and processes. Native Americans: Tribal peoples that settled North America. In the United States, they are also known as …

How a SoCal native became one of NASA’s most valuable assets

How a SoCal native became one of NASA’s most valuable assets

Published by Sam Flores

One of NASA’s most valuable assets is a Southern Californian. Following the space agency’s successful Artemis II mission around the moon last month, Victor Glover — who grew up primarily in the Inland Empire and has spent much of his career at Southern California’s many military and aerospace hubs — is now the only pilot to have flown NASA’s Orion capsule. As the crew finishes its international victory lap before the media, Glover is preparing to put his head down and get to work training the Artemis generation of moon-faring astronauts. Share via Close extra sharing options “I think Artemis is going to demand us to change the paradigm,” he told The Times. The International Space Station, which has been continuously inhabited by a revolving crew of astronauts in low Earth orbit for over 25 years, has a “very well-worn” training program, he said. But developing a new instructional regimen for complex high-stakes moon missions as the agency tries to aggressively ramp up Artemis launches from once every 3 1/2 years to every six months …

The Tangs Donate 150 Native American Artworks to NY Historical

The Tangs Donate 150 Native American Artworks to NY Historical

Published by Jenni Sidey

To receive Morning Links in your inbox every weekday, sign up for our Breakfast with ARTnews newsletter. The Headlines PAST, PRESENT, FUTURE. The New York Historical (NYH) has just received 150 artworks by Native American artists, donated by the chair of its board of trustees, Agnes Hsu-Tang—and her husband, Oscar Tang. The gift coincides with the 250th anniversary of the US, reports the Art Newspaper. Works by Fritz Scholder (Luiseño), Juane Quick-to-See Smith (Salish), T.C. Cannon (Kiowa), Cara Romero (Chemehuevi), and more, are among the artists represented in the donation. “We both see ourselves as messengers … I don’t own these works of art. I’m here to be a temporary steward of these messages, and to pass on—it’s my duty to connect the past, the present, and the future,” said Hsu-Tang. BEZOS IN VOGUE? In case you missed it, Jeff Bezos and Lauren Sánchez Bezos will be the honorary chairs of the Met Gala, reports the New York Times. But that detail was buried in the second page of a recent announcement about the event’s “fashion is art” theme, and after a long list of co-chairs, plus …

25 Native American Artists to Know

25 Native American Artists to Know

Published by Jenni Sidey

Native American artists have only recently gained a spotlight within the mainstream art world. For centuries, Native art was siloed on reservations, at trading posts, and in Indian markets, with no dedicated Indigenous commercial galleries either in urban Indian centers like New York City, San Francisco, Tulsa, or Phoenix or in other areas with significant Native populations. But lately they are finding their way into major galleries and institutions from Miami to New York to Venice. For Native American Heritage Month, we delve into art from 25 Native American, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian artists. While not an exhaustive list, these artists represent a broad spectrum of artistic innovation spanning multiple generations and mediums, from foundational pottery to contemporary Ravenstail weaving. Shattering conventional ideas about fine art while honoring historical techniques and cultural knowledge, they underscore the vitality of Indigenous artists’ contributions to contemporary art and the ongoing need to ensure that their voices and visions are centered in mainstream art discourse. Sydney Akagi Image Credit: Courtesy of the artist. Photo: Pat Barry. Tlingit weaver …