In my mind, there are two great ways to engage people with another culture, food and art. Everyone wants to try a new tasty treat and art is something that can transcend language and cultural barriers by way of sheer aesthetic beauty.
I think it’s important to embrace others cultures in as many ways as possible. That’s what I try to do through my blog, reach people through art. Nati
ve American culture has played a big part of what I try to do here. Their art, in particular, from pottery to jewelry crafting has inspired my life in many amazing ways I never thought possible.
That’s why, when I hear stories like Tohono O’odham introducing Native Culture to Arizona, my heart swells a bit. The Tohono O’odham Nation Cultural Center and Museum is connecting with the Vail Preservation society (of Vail, Arizona) to bring art and culture to the town that was once dominated by the Tohono O’odham tribe.
Students in Vail, Arizona are getting the unique opportunity to show everyone their artistic ability in the small town of 10,000 residents. Two schools from both the town and the Tohono O’odham Nation met to exchange wonderful murals in each other’s school. The exchange also involved a blessing ceremony and documentary screening that illustrate the rich history of both the town and the Tohono O’odham Nation.
Fostering this kind of relationship between two different cultures is what my blog is all about. I simply love hearing stories like the one about Vail, Arizona and the Tohono O’odham Nation, how these two communities can get together to achieve such a successful result.
This kind of dialog opens the way for cultures to mix and mingle, advancing us as a society to create newer and more exciting things. Just as a lot of the Native American silver-working techniques were taught from the Spanish, two different cultures have a lot to show and teach each other as long as they are respectful and honest, just as the good people of Vail, Arizona.