We should have mentioned the National Museum of the American A friend writes:<\/P> About 20,000 Native Americans <\/P> Roughly half of the $219-million museum ($119 million) was funded by the federal
\nIndian<\/FONT><\/B><\/A>, which opened Tuesday in Washington, D.C. Here are some
\nceremony<\/FONT><\/B><\/A>. The First
\nAmericans Festival<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> continues through Sunday.<\/P>
\n
\nOn Monday, I just happened to be enroute home from a weekend trip and
\nchanged planes in Memphis, where more than a few participants boarded my flight to D.C. I was
\nreally struck by how much this museum means to them. This may sound corny, but I was moved
\nto tears by their enthusiasm and pride. The museum was 15 years in the making and it will be the
\nSmithsonian’s last museum. The last museum for the first Americans.
\n
\nmarched<\/FONT><\/B><\/A> in the Procession of Nations on opening day. It is said to be the
\nlargest gathering of the tribes in history. Most were dressed in full tribal regalia as they walked
\ntogether to the dedication of the museum. The word “awesome” — these days completely
\noverused — really applies here. It will take more than a museum to heal their wounds, but what a
\ngreat start.<\/P><\/BLOCKQUOTE>
\n
\n
\ngovernment. Private contributions made up the rest of the funding. “Three tribes with thriving
\ncasino operations together raised $30 million,” the
\n10,000 years from the pre-Columbian era through the beginning of the 20th century, will be on
\npermanent exhibit. Overall holdings include 800,000 objects and 125,000 photographs.<\/P>
\n