Throughout the exhibit, is the dominant presence of the Native American
voice, from each of Arkansas’s three prominent tribes. During the two
years of
exhibit development, many tribal members were interviewed and it is
this voice that informs, educates and guides visitors through the
exhibit. Historic
Arkansas Museum chief curator and deputy director Swannee Bennett
said, “What makes this exhibit unique is that it is a story of the
Arkansas Native
American told in large part with an Indian voice.” This new
permanent exhibit enables the museum to tell the bigger story of
Arkansas’s frontier history.
“We Walk in Two Worlds is a milestone as the State of Arkansas
officially partners with the Caddo, Osage and Quapaw Nations and the
Smithsonian’s National
Museum of the American Indian to tell this story of struggle and
endurance.” said museum director Bill Worthen. To enhance this permanent
exhibit,
the museum is developing related programming for all the school
children of Arkansas. For adults, the museum will bring in guest
speakers and artists
to cover many topics relating to the exhibit for many years to come.