New Center for Native American Museum

By SASKIA NEWTON

The Smithsonian National Museum of the American Indian on Thursday kicked off construction of a modernized youth learning center aiming to get young people focused on Native American innovations in such things as sports, clothing and adornment, music, and technology.

“Today we celebrate the expansion of this museum,” said City Councilwoman, Margaret Chin. “It will engage even more young people and inspire them with a sense of what is possible.”

The educational goal of the project is to show the impact and influences of discoveries and inventions by indigenous people on everyday life, featuring mechanica activities, media interactives and introductory graphics and texts.

The center will include a variety of different sections such as, ‘A-Maize-ing Science’ where visitors explore corn genetic varieties and native group practices to make corn more nutritious.; ‘Well-being and Medicine’ which will highlight native medicinal knowledge found in everyday products and ‘Make It: Engineering’ showcasing indigenous designs such as bridges.

“The focus is on native innovation in science technology and how they impact lives today,” said Duane Spruce, facilities planning coordinator. “It will be beneficial to the way children and educators think of native people.”

“It’s a brilliant way to educate family and children all across the globe,” said Manhattan Borough President Gale Brewer.

This is the first of several innovations happening in New York City. “It reflects a new effort the museum is taking to turn our route to our educational responsibility,” said Kevin Gover, the museum director.

The $9 million construction project was scheduled to be completed by late 2017 and the museum plannedto open the center in April 2018.