The mission of the Smoki Museum of American Indian Art & Culture is to instill an understanding and respect for the indigenous cultures of the Southwest.   Knowledge of and insights into those cultures is a prerequisite for respect.  This section attempts to capture some of that base. 

The following describes the topics included.  Click on the title and you will jump to the more detailed content:

Time Line for Innovation in the Southwestern US

Basketmaking Among Southwestern Native Tribes

Basket making was one of the earliest skills developed since baskets were needed for carrying goods, for storage, for trapping and fishing, and for religious ceremonies.  Unlike pottery, baskets do not survive for extended periods of time.  Most that are available today were constructed in the last 120 years, particularly after native people in the Southwest began to make baskets with the idea of selling them and moved baskets into the category of artistic collectables.  Those made between 1880 and 1930 tend to be the most valuable, particularly if they are in good condition, well-made, and have an interesting design, but these latter factors can make any basket desirable. 

Every generation feels overwhelmed by new technology leading to the idea that earlier generations were technologically challenged.  But those earlier generations each had their own new technology which provided a basis for the next generation’s progress. 

Archaeological research has now demonstrated that humans have lived in the Southwestern United States for at least 12000 years and started developing new technology soon after they arrived.  The attached Time Line [click here] lists approximate dates for innovations that appeared over time. 

The Smoki People were dedicated to preserving the cultural history of Indians in the Southwest.  They played an important role in Prescott including establishing and helping to develop the Museum.  For more information, click here.

The Smoki People

Edward S. Curtis 

One example of generating insights into indigenous cultures is the Museum's new exhibit featuring some of the photogravures taken by Edward S. Curtis (1868-1952).  Almost a century ago, Curtis used his camera to capture the cultures that he feared were being lost through government policy and the pressures of non-Indian immigration.  The Indian cultures were more tenacious than he expected, but his pictures and commentary offer insights into a life style that evolved through  religious beliefs  and centuries of experience.