CONNECTING WITH ANCESTRAL TRADITIONS: REVIVING ANCIENT TECHNIQUES BY STUDYING ARCHAEOLOGICAL REPORTS AND ARTIFACTS

Learn from the master potter himself! Richard Zane Smith teach us about his work on reviving ancient pottery techniques. He works with Archaeologists in determining the technique and processes of ancestral traditional pottery ways. By combing through archaeological reports and analyzing artifacts, one can come pretty close to understanding the lives of people who lived long ago. Join us October 8, 2021 at 3:00 PM CST to learn more!

This event will be live-streamed on Facebook Live. Watch online only.

The museum will be open to the public with regular hours, reserve your free timed ticket for entry.

This event will be recorded and archived on our website at a later date.

Photo Credit: Robert D. Little

Sǫhahiyo (he has a good path) Richard Zane Smith

Born in 1955, raised in Missouri, Richard grew up in a spiritual creative home where artistic expression was cultivated by scattered pencils and paper on the coffee table in the evenings while his parents read stories to the five children. His mother always encouraged all of them to be proud of their rich Wyandot heritage. Richard’s been a self-employed full-time ceramic artist since 1984. He’s active in Wyandot/Wendat language and culture revitalization, longhouse ceremonies, and spent seven years teaching Wyandot language and storytelling in the Wyandotte public schools. He is continually holding pottery workshops for First Nations peoples including Wyandot, Seneca/Cayuga, Mi’kmaq, Shawnee, Oneida, and Wendat and Innu in Canada. He enjoys telling Wyandot stories to children and passing on what he’s learned, in bow making, rattle making, and other indigenous art forms that tie people to their ancestors. He’s been fortunate to be invited to New Zealand for three different indigenous artists’ gatherings and cherishes those inspiring gatherings with those of similar passion. A dream of his is to see all indigenous art traditions restored. Richard says ”I believe all artists are stronger when they're grounded in their own ancestral art forms first.” Though he will not compete in Art Competitions, He has work in many major museums across the country, and in a number of books and publications. Richard was nominated and honored with a First Peoples Fund Community Spirit Award for storytelling and voluntary service to his Native American community. Richard is an enrolled member of the Wyandot Nation of Kansas (not federally recognized) and an IACB certified Indian Artisan.