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Roger labourn
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Roger W. Laybourn
“Mneznibliget”
Metis-Potawatomi
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Roger has been
involved in the Native American community since the early 1970s and is not
only one of the founders of the Metis movement in the Indiana region, but is
currently an elder of the United Metis Tribe as well as tribal historian. He
studied art at both Vincennes and University and Indiana University and has
always produced arts and crafts of an historical or Native American nature.
Pen and ink has always been a favorite medium; however, due to physical
issues he is considering other forms of expression. All in all, Roger’s arts
and crafts are always an attempt to keep history alive and to help teach
present generations something of their past. |
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On the Streets of Vincennes
(Delaware Ca. 1770)
Pen & Ink
About the year 1770, a large group of the Munsee
(wolf) division of the Lenni Lenape (Delaware) Tribe came to Vincennes to
seek permission to settle in the French-Metis territory. They sought to
escape the growing hostilities between colonists angry with British rule and
loyalists as well as officials of the British crown, which lead to the
American Revolution a few years later. The Vincennes region was one of the
few relatively neutral areas left in the years just before the war broke
out.
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“Old Style Grass Dancer”
(Lakota Omaha Warrior Society
Ca. 1900 to present)
This style of Dance Regalia originated in the late
1800s and early 1900s just as the cultural festival which became the modern
PowWow came into being. Outfits similar to this have enjoyed many revivals
throughout the 20th century and can still be observed at many PowWows today.
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The Buffalo Hunter: (Miami)
Most people think of Native American Buffalo hunts an activity of the
western tribes; however, the Piankashaw and their Miami relatives, as well
as other tribes throughout the larger region surrounding Vincennes hunted
buffalo also. In fact, Native peoples had been hunting since the Ice Age.
Until around 1809 when the last of the buffalo died off, the herds used to
take up to a month to pass through Vincennes twice a year, both in the
spring and fall migrations. |
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Shawnee Warrior
(Shawnee Ca. 1790s)
Pen & Ink
This depiction is meant to represent the anger and
frustration experienced by the Native populations of the region over the
blatantly unfair policies and practices of the fledgling U.S. government in
the years just after the Revolution. In addition, this work represents
absolutely the last thing an early settler would want to see if peeking out
of his cabin window at night. |
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A Gift from the
Ancient Ones |
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