A special Indian Summer Showcase concert in the spirit of the Live Earth concerts
July 7, 2007
The Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian announced that it will host a special concert event called "Mother Earth" Saturday, July 7, with musical performances and speakers from the scientific and American Indian cultural communities in the spirit of the Live Earth message. Live Earth is a 24-hour, seven-continent concert series that will bring together more than 100 music artists to raise awareness about climate change. As part of this environmental message, the museum will make the broadcast of Mother Earth available to Live Earth.
"There is no more important matter before us than the question of how to live sustainably on the Earth," said Tim Johnson (Mohawk), acting director of the museum. "As an institution of living cultures, the National Museum of the American Indian is committed to elevating human understanding of global climate change through education and cultural performances."
The concert is free and open to the public. It will take place on the museum's Welcome Plaza at 4th Street and Independence Avenue SW, facing the U.S. Capitol. Mother Earth will begin with an opening ceremony at 10:30 a.m. immediately followed by the concert's first act, Blues Nation, an Oklahoma-based rhythm and blues band. Native American rock, funk, punk, reggae, gospel and Andean music; films; and guest speakers will fill out the day ending with a finale by Blues Nation at 9:30 p.m.
Schedule of Events:
10:30 a.m. Opening Ceremony and Welcome with Blues Nation. Remarks by guest speakers: Henrietta Mann, Ph.D. (Cheyenne and member of the Cheyenne and Arapaho Tribes of Oklahoma), professor emeritus and special assistant to the president of Montana State University in Bozeman, Mont.; Katsi Cook (Akwesasne Mohawk Nation), traditional midwife and founding director of the First Environment Project of Running Strong for American Indian Youth.
11:30 a.m. Native Roots, reggae band from Albuquerque, N.M.
12:15 p.m. Remarks by guest speakers: Daniel Wildcat, Ph.D., professor at Haskell Indian Nations University in Lawrence, Kan. and co-director of the Haskell Environmental Research Studies Center; Henrietta Mann; and Katsi Cook
12:30 p.m. Yarina (Kichua), traditional and contemporary Andean music and dance from Boston, Mass.
1:30 p.m. Film: "The Trail of Tears: Cherokee Legacy." Rasmuson Theater
(Note: During the film there will be no performances on the Welcome Plaza stage.)
3 p.m. Trail of Tears discussion with Chad Smith, Principal Chief of the Cherokee Nation of Okla., Rasmuson Theater
3:45 p.m. The Plateros (Diné), rock-tinged gospel from Canoncito, N.M.
4:30 p.m. The Breaking Wind, rock, funk, and blues from Canada's Six Nations Reserve in Ontario
5:15 p.m. Remarks by guest speakers: Nancy G. Maynard, Ph.D., senior research scientist in the Cryospheric Sciences Branch at NASA Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Md. and manager of NASA's Tribal College and University Project; and Anthony D. Socci, Ph.D, senior science and communication fellow in the Atmospheric Policy Program at the American Meteorological Society in Washington, D.C.
5:30 p.m. Blues Nation, original and standard blues from Okla.
6:30 p.m. The Reddmen, punk rock band from Rapid City, S.D.
7:15 p.m. Native Roots
8 p.m. Yarina
8:45 p.m. The Reddmen
9:30 p.m. Closing remarks by Henrietta Mann and Katsi Cook. Musical finale with Blues Nation and friends.
The schedule is subject to change.
For updates, visit the Museum's Web site at www.AmericanIndian.si.edu/motherearth.
The broadcast portion of Mother Earth is being produced by Herring Media Group, Inc. of Connecticut, (HMG). HMG Chairman and CEO Marc Herring, said, "It is an honor and privilege to work with the Smithsonian's National Museum of the American Indian and to collaborate with Live Earth to present this important program and to celebrate a new era of ecology awareness."
