Mark your calendar for the Code Talkers

August 14 each year will be set aside by the Navajo Nation as the annual Code Talkers Day. This tribal holiday will recognize the heroic contributions made by the Navajo Indians during WWII.

“In all the war histories of the United States, no other language other than English was used except in World War II, when the United States for the first time in its history used the Navajo people and Navajo words to win the war.,” said Larry Anderson, Council Delegate from Fort Defiance. He continued, “The Navajo code was dispatched by the Navajo and received by the Navajo and translated by the Navajo”.

The first platoon of code talkers to graduate from the Marine academy were recognized after the war with Congressional Gold Medals. The remainder, some 300 more, were given silver medals.

The United States owes a great debt of gratitude to these heroes. We encourage you to set aside a few minutes on August 14 to recognize them in your thoughts.

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person is proud of its association with the native people of our land and proud to be the owners of a hand-carved color guard of code talkers, pictured here.

They were carved in 1997 by Renzo Reed of the Navajo Nation.

Yale University Art Gallery showing African art.

The Yale Daily News has announced the presence of an exhibition of some 135 items of African tribal art. Most of the items are from the collection of the late Charles B. Benenson, a generous benefactor of the University.

According to the article, which can be read in its entirety here, the African space was left open and undivided to encourage viewers to wander to whatever catches their eyes.

For examples of African art - masks, carvings, textiles, etc - in the Aboriginals: Art of the First Person collection, visit TribalWorks.

If African art is not your thing, try one of our other sites for Zuni and Native American fetish carvings, American Indian pottery or American Indian jewelry.

Google giveth; Google taketh away.

Apologia.

The last blog thrillingly announced that a new search engine was available that would allow you to search all of the Aboriginals web site with a single search term.

Sorry. Not so much.

I could not get the search engine to work on the blog, although it does work on the link pages of each site. So it has been deleted from this blog – at least for now.

If Google can walk me through installing it on the blog so that it works as promised, we will try again.

Tribal Art Search Engine Installed

Technology marches on.



We have added a Google Custom Search Engine to our Tribal Artery blog.



If you want to search for an object of tribal art or other information about tribal art on any of our web sites, simply enter your key search word in the field below and press search. You will receive a list of links to that subject in Native-JewelryLink, Native-PotteryLink, TribalWorks and ZuniLink. Try it and let me know about your experience. Is this worth keeping?

OOOPS!!!! THE PROGRAM HAS NOT BEEN WORKING AS ADVERTISED. WE ARE INVESTIGATING AND CORRECTING. THANK YOU.




Thank you.

William Waites,

Keep your eyes open for stolen art

From time to time, tribal art gets stolen, shoplifted or burgled from galleries and private homes.

When this happens, savvy owners/victims know to report their losses to the Antique Tribal Art Dealers Association Theft Alert pages.

Once pictures are posted to the ATADA site, all potential buyers are put on notice that these are stolen items. If they are spotted in a gallery or in private home, the authorities should be notified so that the art can be confiscated and returned to its true owner.

We understand that one's passion for the art can lead to overwhelming temptation. Or that the items may represent a cash opportunity for criminals. We do not condone taking what does not belong to you and we think it is good that stolen art becomes difficult to show or sell when the public can identify the items as stolen.

To look at what currently is being displayed at the site, go to this link.

Aboriginals sales to benefit Lee County Alliance for the Arts

Residents of Lee County, Florida and adjacent Collier and Charlotte Counties, will recall that Aboriginals: Art of the First Person maintained a physical gallery on Sanibel Island for 16 years. It was closed in 2005 with plans to continue offering tribal art and artifacts on line through its family of web sites.

During the same period, Aboriginals has been an active member of the Lee County Alliance of the Arts. William has served on the Board of that organization that serves and supports the arts in Lee County.

In March, the Alliance will present its annual Angels of the Arts Awards, honoring those in the arts community that have contributed extraordinarily. In conjunction with that event, Aboriginals will contribute 25% of the value of any items bought from our on line sites by members of the Alliance who so identifies themselves as members when ordering.

For Alliance members, its an excellent opportunity to indulge their passion for art, especially tribal art, pottery and jewelry, and support this worthy organization.

The applicable web sites are ZuniLink.com, TribalWorks.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com .

Waites to blog from 14th Triennial of African Tribal Art

In a previous posting I commented on the impending 14th Triennial Symposium on African Art. It's set to run from March 28, with a museum day, through March 31 on the University of Florida campus at Gainesville, Florida.

Today, I registered to attend so it is for certain, assuming no weather disasters, that I will be blogging from the Symposium, with reports on as many sessions and as much of the program as I can. My plan is to post these blog messages at night, after the sessions, each day. Although, given the activities scheduled, I may run a little behind.

For more information about the Triennial, visit the University of Florida's site for the Symposium.

Click on this link for some examples of the African tribal art hosted at our TribalWorks site. Click on the link to the African Room.

Four New Members Elected to SWAIA Board

The Southwestern Association of Indian Arts, sponsor of the annual Santa Fe Indian Market, has announced the election of four new members to the Board of Directors: Nocona J. Burgess, Cheryl McClelland Tofpi, Carole Sandoval and Kim Seyesnem Obrzut.

Confirmation took place at SWAIA's annual meeting on January 19, 2007

The Annual Santa Fe Indian Market is the most respected show and market for Native American Indian arts and artists. It is staged each year in August.

This writer, William Ernest Waites, who is both a blogger about tribal art and co-owner of ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com, Native-PotteryLink.com and TribalWorks.com, will attend the market and blog his observations in 2007 as he did 2006 (see August and September archives in tis blog).

For more information about SWAIA and the new Board members visit this link.

New Native American Studies program for South Carolina

Jim Largo writes in Indian Country Today that two teachers and an archivist at the University of South Carolina at Lancaster have been authorized to start a Native American Studies program at the USCL campus. The program could get under way as soon as this fall.

When it is in place it will be the state's only such program and the only one in the entire Southeast.



The project was stimulated, according to Professor Stephen Criswell when Dean John Catalano expressed a desire for a program based on a collection of articles about the Catawba Indians, which were donated to USCL by Tomas J. Blumer. Blumer had studied the Catawba Indians for more than 40 years.


As the program develops, it could lead to a baccalaureate degree in Native American Studies, in conjunction with telecourses from the Columbia, SC, main campus. USCL is a two-year satellite campus.



Criswell reported that the campus will hold a Native American Studies Week in the spring and will stage a Cawtawba Pow Wow on November 17, 2007.


Tribal Artery is the periodic blog about tribal art and culture sponsored by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, which honors and features artistic creations by Native Americans and other tribal peoples.

Virginia Congressperson to introduce apology bill

According to Indian Country Today, Representative Jo Ann Davis has introduced a resolution in the US Congress, to apologize to Native American Indians for their mistreatment over the years at the hands of the U. S. government.

The resolution lists treaty violations, outlawing of traditional Indian religions, destruction a sacred places and, in the extreme, extermination, termination and forced removal.

It's long past due.

Travel to Mali, West Africa

William Ernest Waites, co-owner of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and a web site that features African tribal art, has learned that Drew University will sponsor another package trip to Mali, West Africa, from July 8 to August 2, 2007.

Jerry Vogel is to be the guide on a trip that will feature the extraordinary arts and architecture of the Dogon and Bamana peoples. The itinerary will include the Djenne and Timbuktu, villages of legend in Dogon art, and the town of Mopti on the Niger River. The Bamana centers at Segou and San also will be visited as will the Mali capitol of Bamako.

Cost is $5,250 per person and includes round trip air fare New York-Bamako, lodging, Land Rover transportation in Mali, and eight hours of academic credit. Applications are due no later than April 15, 2007.

For more information, contact intlprog@drew.edu.

Having traveled in West Africa and collected the intriguing art of these peoples, we can heartily endorse the value such a trip. To preview some of the art you may be seeing visit the African Room at TribalWorks.com.

Sotheby Auction Dates

Sotheby's has announced the dates for three tribal art auctions in 2007.



African, Oceanic and Pre-Columbian Art (Sale #8320) will be offered on May 17, 2007 in New York. Previews will be open from May 12 through May16.



American Indian Art (Sale #8384) will be offered May 18, 2007 in New York. Previews will be open from May 12 through May 17.



Important Australian Art Including Works from the Qantas Collection (Sale #AU0711) will be offered in Sydney, NSW, Australia on May 7, 2007. Exhibition will be open on April 27-29 in Sydney and May 4-6 in Melbourne.



Absentee bid forms are available.



Aboriginals: Art of the First Person, the sponsor of this Tribal Artery blog, offers authentic tribal art from Africa, Native America and Australia at its TribalWorks web site.

ASA meetings – Oct. 18-21 - seeking panelists

Linda Giles and Rebecca Gearhart have announced they are considering a panel on African Art & Globalization at the next ASA meetings in New York, October 18-21, 2007.

If you are interested in submitting a paper for the panel, or already have a panel available, contact Dr. Linda Giles at 612 N. School, Normal, IL 61761 or phone 309-452-8821.

Both anthropologists work in coastal Kenya. They are thinking about papers on female weavers in a small coastal village and/or the repatriation of Kenyan ancestor statues.

Tribal Artery is brought to you as periodical blog about Tribal Art from Africa, Australia, Native America and the Arctic.

African Archaeology Conference at 14th Triennial

In addition to everything else scheduled for the 14^th Triennial Symposium on African Art the weekend of March 28 - April 1, 2007 at the University of Florida, which we will be blogging about in Tribal Artery, Peter Schmidt has organized a full day conference on African archaeology. The day will be followed by working sessions over several days. We are told the working sessions will not be open to the public.

The title of the conference is Post Colonial Archaeologies of Africa. We are told it will run through April 3, 2007. - William Ernest Waites, Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and TribalWorks.com

African Art Triennial at USF – Waites to participate

If you are in the Gainesville, FL area, or anywhere else, for that matter, and can spring for weekend of African Art involvement, mark your calendar for March 28 – April 1, 2007. That weekend will see the 14^th Triennial Symposium on African Art at the University of Florida College of Fine Arts and the Samuel P. Harn Museum of Art.

The Symposium’s theme will be Global Africa. Events include a Museum Day on March 28, under the chair responsibility of Carol Thompson, High Museum of Art, Atlanta, and Susan Cooksey, Harn Museum of Art, University of Florida, . For more information, visit http://www.doce-conferenced.ufl.edu/acasa/default.aspx.

Conference registration is available through this link but Arts Council of the African Studies Association membership is required for participation.

This notice is brought to you through Tribal Artery as a service of Tribalworks.com, a web site of Aboriginals: Art of the First Person with a special section devoted to African Tribal Art. William Waites, co-owner of the gallery web site. plans to participate for further blog reports in Tribal Artery.

New American Indian Museum in Oklahoma

The Native American Cultural and Education Authority has approved plans for a $135 million museum and American Indian center in Oklahoma.

The design is said to include grand halls with sweeping promenades and courtyards and interactive exhibits, featuring natural elements - earth, wind, fire and stones from areas in which Native Americans lived when they were forced to walk to the Oklahoma Territory in what was later described as the Trail of Tears.

The first phase of construction, which was reported to have started in December, will be completed in 2009.

According to William Waites, proprietor of web sites featuring Native American material culture, ZuniLink.com, Native-JewelryLink.com and Native-PotteryLink.com , "This is an important development that will recognize the trials and tribulations suffered by the continent's original inhabitants as European influences moved south and west. We owe our indigenous hosts more than we ever can repay. The least we can due is recognize their courage and indomitable nature."

American Indian Exposition continues

Short notice, to be sure.

But if you are in the Tucson AZ area, make a point to visit the American Indian Exposition at the Flamingo Hotel, 1300 N. Stone Ave., Tucson. It continues through this Sunday, February 10 until 5 PM. For more information, phone 520-622-4900 or visit usaindianinfo.org.

Aboriginals: Art of the First Person owner, William Waites, says, "We try to attend as many of these shows as we can because we always learn something and see old friends at them. We won't see you there since we have to miss this one. But we're sure you will enjoy it and find yourself on the receiving end of knowledge and good spirits, too."

In memory of Greg Cherry

The esteemed former art director of African Arts Magazine, Greg Cherry, passed away on January 31, 2007. He was at home in Los Angeles when he died.

According to African Arts Magazine, Greg was the magazine's art director for 18 years whenhe retired in August 2006.

We will miss Greg, who was instrumental in helping us with advertising matters. We learned of his passing with sadness.

African Tribal Art masks added to TribalWorks

We have just added a number of previously unoffered tribal masks from Africa to the TribalWorks website.

Here are some thumbnails:

BoboBobo

PendeMarkaBaule

DanGuroDanBauleDjiminiBamanaBauleBamoun

Visit the website for more detail. Click through to the African Room.

The Dust has settled.

With Christmas/New Year’s Rush behind us, we are settling into a more “normal” routine.


Well, “normal” may be an overstatement.


In mid-December, Bill had a gall bladder attack that sent him to the local hospital. Two days later, after extensive tests and heavy painkillers, it was decided that the offending organ had to be removed.



Bill is still recuperating. While resting, he has also been working. But it is amazing how much energy that surgery and anesthetics take out someone. So he has been running with some dead battery cells.

Now, however, Bill is back at almost full strength and mental capacity.


So, what has he been up to?

On the fetish carving front, new carvings by Melvin Sandoval have been added to his page.

A new otter carved from jet by Melvin Sandoval

In addition, if you are a Gilbert Lonjose fan, you’ll find two whole pages of his carvings newly posted here. Incidentally, since many of these carvings were acquired as part of personal collection years ago, they are priced surprisingly low.

A llama carved Zuni Gilbert Lonjose

In African art, we are about to post a number of masks from various West and Central African tribes. We have a potential buyer who wants to see them first. Incidentally, this is something we often do for clients who ask us for an item that we may have that is not yet on the web site. You only have to ask and we will send or post pictures to a private page so you can get first shot at it.

But here's a sneak preview.

A ceremonial dance mask from the Dan tribe
of West Africa (Liberia/Cote d'Ivoire)

Jewelry Update


A lot of Native American Indian Jewelry went out over the holidays, and has been replaced by other items. We expect more orders coming up to Valentine’s Day, another big jewelry day.


In the meantime, we have specifically added a number of cross pendants for clients with a special interest in them.

Navajo cross of sterling silver and
five diamond shape coral cabochons.

Heard any good ones lately?

Some people assume that Native peoples don't have much sense of humor, perhaps because their world view is different from that of non-natives.


But they clearly do enjoy a good laugh with (at) the rest of us.



If you ever have the privilege of watching a dance at a pueblo, you will find lots of comic antics by the Koshares.


Similarly, the dancers in African tribal villages participate in extensive mimicry of each other and the Europeans who colonized their tribal areas. In fact, several carvers have done figures that specifically "laugh" at colonials.

A Baule tribe (Cote d'Ivoire) carving
mocking a European colonialist.

And, in Australian Aboriginal culture, their sense of humor also is influenced by their experiences with European "invaders."

In one case, when the whitefella residents of Brisbane evicted the indigenous residents from an area west of town, they asked what the Aboriginal name was for the area. "Goona", they were told and that was the name they printed on their maps. Later, they came to learn that "goona" was the Aboriginal word for "sh*t", they changed the wording on the maps, signs and deeds to "Goodna."


In another case, in a scene from the 1977 movie, Backroads, one of the first films to include indigenous collaboration, one of the whitefella characters asks a blackfella sitting by the road, "Hey, Jackie, can I take this road to the pub?"


The answer was, "You might as well, you white bastard. You took everything else."


For more on Australian Aboriginal humour, click here.

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Tribal Artery, the blog is a periodic effort by Aboriginals: Art of the First Person and its web sites to enlighten and entertain about world of tribal art. To visit our websites, click any of these links:

Authentic, hand-carved Zuni and other Indian fetish carvings - ZuniLink.com
Beautiful, hand-made Native American Indian jewelry in silver, gold, turquoise, coral and other stones - Native-JewelryLink.com
Collector quality Indian Pueblo pottery - Native-PotteryLink.com
Selected tribal art objects and artifacts from Africa, Australia, the Arctic and Navajo folk art - TribalWorks.com