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“The Social and Political Life of the Chief White Antelope Blanket: Establishing Its Identity” (Part I), a short seminar chaired by Kathleen Whitaker, Director, Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research, June 19-23, 2004.

Participants

Kathleen Whitaker, Chair
Director, Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research
Textile Specialist and Author

Nancy J. Blomberg
Curator of Native Arts, Denver Art Museum
Specialist in Navajo Textiles and Author

Jonathan Dover (Navajo/Cheyenne)
Ranger for the Department of Resource Development, the Navajo Tribe
Lineal descendant of Chief White Antelope

Josie Caruso
Independent Researcher, Society for Spanish Colonial Arts, Santa Fe, NM
Textile specialist

Estévan Rael-Galvéz
State Historian for New Mexico, Santa Fe
Navajo-Hispanic borderlands specialist and Author

Susan Hart
Independent Researcher
Navajo textile specialist

Ann Lane Hedlund
Director, Gloria F. Ross Center for Tapestry Studies, University of Arizona Specialist in Navajo Textiles and Author

Rita Iringan
Native American Heritage Coordinator, Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research

Susan McGreevy
Director Emeritus, Wheelwright Museum of the American Indian, Santa Fe, New Mexico
Anthropologist and Author

Marian Rodee
Curator Emeritus, Maxwell Museum of Anthropology, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Navajo Textile Specialist and Author

Shannon Parker
Collection Manager, Indian Arts Research Center, School for Advanced Research

Marilou Schultz (Navajo)
Master Weaver

Standing (from left): Nancy J. Blomberg, Ann Lane Hedlund, Susan McGreevy, Jonathan Dover, Susan Hart, Marian Rodee, Shannon Parker, Estévan Rael-Galvéz, Kathleen Whitaker, Marilou Schultz, Josie Caruso

Not Shown: Rita Iringan

Summary

This seminar included microscopic research and analysis regarding the Chief White Antelope blanket's physical properties as well as in-depth discussions about its Navajo origin, history, and social life. The study was conducted in cooperation with the lineal descendents and Cheyenne tribal representatives. The Chief White Antelope blanket was purportedly taken from the body of Chief White Antelope at the Sand Creek Massacre on November 29, 1864. It is currently housed in the collections of the Indian Arts Research Center at the School for Advanced Research.