Red/Black: Related Through History

A groundbreaking exhibition exploring the shared history between African and Native Americans will open at the Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art on Feb. 12, 2011 in Indianapolis, Indiana. “Red/Black: Related Through History” includes an object-based exhibition on the subject, created by the Eiteljorg Museum, and the Smithsonian’s traveling panel show, “IndiVisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas.” When Africans were hunted, captured and removed from their villages, they were shackeled and forced to endure deplorable conditions on slave ships. When they arrived in North America, the interactions between people of African and Native American heritage created a combined story of conflict, cooperation, cultural growth, destruction and survival. Since 2001, the Eiteljorg Museum has pioneered research on this subject and has drawn together important art and artifacts that demonstrate shared traditions found in history, genealogy, food, dress, music and occupation. Some American Indians held black slaves and others helped them escape. Sometimes there was intermarriage and a blending of traditions. Red/Black also explores issues of race and personal identity and the question: “Who am I and who gets to say so?” James Nottage, chief curator at the Eiteljorg Museum will be our guest. Also joining our Indigenous circle is Radmilla Cody, traditional Navajo recording artist, Indie Award Winner, multiple Native American Award Nominee and international performer. She continues to maintain Navajo culture by recording music that children sing with pride and lyrics the Dine elders can be proud of. Radmilla is a biracial woman who continues to touch the lives and heal the hearts of her supporters. Miss Cody is of the Tla’a’schi’i’(Red-Orche-on-Cheek) clan. Her father is an African-Americans. Radmilla is the 46th Miss Navajo Nation from 1997-98.