Powwow exhibit a must-see on Passport Partners Day

A photo from the “Faces in the Land” exhibit at Joslyn Art Museum. The exhibit is one of many that can be seen on Saturday during Passport Partners Day, which is free for all UNMC, UNMC Physicians and The Nebraska Medical Center employees, students and their families.

Among the many spectacular exhibits that can be seen during the Joslyn Art Museum Passport Partners Employee Day on Saturday is one titled “Faces from the Land: A Photographic Journey through Native America.”

The exhibit, which features astonishing photographs of American Indian powwow dancers, has a special place in Terri Kalinowski’s heart.

Kalinowski, coordinator of The Nebraska Medical Center thrift store, is a Navajo Indian who is nationally recognized for teaching traditional American Indian culture. She also is a powwow dancer. She was accorded a personal tour of the exhibit before it opened in September.

“I immediately felt how deeply the photographers had captured the spirit and pride of the people who dance at our powwows and maintain traditional ways,” Kalinowski said. “These photos truly display the power of family unity and friendship that held our people together in past generations and that we are now rekindling through our powwows.

“Powwows are an immense family gathering for Indian people — they are like family reunions. We meet old friends and make new friends. We share stories and talk about our children growing up and the rest of us growing older.”

The powwows also help some American Indians reconnect with a part of their heritage that they have lost touch with, Kalinowski said.

“So many of my generation have memories of being told to forget about being Indians as children, being called dirty Indians, being told to forget our traditional ways,” she said. “We grew up ashamed of being Indians. But today, we are revitalizing the pride and are passing it on to our children. This rebirth can be best seen and felt at our powwows. The Joslyn exhibit photos have captured Indian people living our traditions better than any contemporary photos I’ve seen.”

Working together as photographer and producer/documentarian respectively, Ben and Linda Marra of Seattle began to document powwows in 1988.

Terri Kalinowski, coordinator of The Nebraska Medical Center thrift store, displays her traditional Navajo dress. Kalinowski hand sews all of her tribal clothing.The feathers are from a deceased American bald eagle, sanctioned for distribution by the U.S. Department of the Interior and blessed by Navajo spiritual leaders.

Powwow is an integral part of American Indian life that offers the opportunity to gather to celebrate spiritual connections to ancestors, the earth, community and traditions through drum, song and dance.

“Faces from the Land” features 40 of Ben Marra’s large print portraits of powwow dancers, each accompanied by personal narratives written by the subject describing the tribal significance of their regalia and dance. These striking images, along with their text, vividly detail the magic of powwow, while also allowing the viewer the opportunity to the see the juxtaposition of ancient tradition and modern culture.

The Passport Partners event is free for UNMC, UNMC Physicians and The Nebraska Medical Center employees, students and their families. It will be held from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at the museum. Those planning to attend are asked to present their identification badges at any Joslyn’s admissions desk for free admission.