What's Up - Your guide to what's happening in Fayetteville, AR this week!
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8 WHAT'S UP! AUGUST 16-22, 2020 COVER STORY Sky's the limit for MONAH online BECCA MARTIN-BROWN NWA Democrat-Gazette S top typing and close your eyes," David Bogle instructs a reporter during a phone interview. "Picture an American Indian in your mind." Bogle already knows what most people are going to see: A Plains or Sioux warrior, wearing a headdress and holding a staff or bow in his hand, astride a spotted pony, looking across a vast prairie to the distant hills. "That's what TV and movies have done to us," Bogle says. "In reality, there was probably a time somewhere between 1860 and 1880, if you were in the right location at the right time, you might have been able to find that guy. But it's not reality in the big picture. What we do at the Museum of Native American History is we teach diversity — and we teach 14,000 years of history you probably didn't learn in school." Bogle, of Bentonville, founded the museum in his home in 2006 and bought the building at 202 S.W. O St. in 2008. He's added onto the structure four times and constantly expands the collection, which started with several sets of framed arrowheads and now includes artifacts from prehistory in North and South America to modern day. Continuing to collect during the pandemic wasn't enough, however, to satisfy Bogle or his staff. Instead, they've spent the past five months creating a virtual version of MONAH that would do a big city museum proud. "As crazy and as heartbreaking as the pandemic is, we have all had to adapt to the new day-to-day," says the museum's director, Charlotte Buchanan-Yale. "For me, I see a new balance and a time for a better understanding. We have more time now than we did in our past fast-paced days to walk in the slippers of others. With this reset, MONAH has a lot to offer in raising the awareness of the diversity of indigenous nations and our collective history. "We wanted our virtual tour of the museum to reflect David Bogle's vision, and I wanted our 'virtual' visitors to experience MONAH's special events with present-day indigenous cultural leaders in a joyful celebration of the human spirit that inspires you to want to learn more," she explains. "We did not have the time to create this vision before the pandemic at the pace we were running with the museum open. These last five months gave us the time to work behind the scenes to build this foundation." Buchanan-Yale knows a great idea requires great people to come to fruition. "In this case, [it required] people who feel that working at MONAH is more than a 9 to 5 job," she says, like Darcy Calaway, who is the creator of the museum's new online store. The virtual tour of the Museum of Native American History begins with its founder, David Bogle, who started the museum in his home in 2006. (Courtesy Image) David Bogle, who is of Cherokee heritage, was attracted to Native American artifacts by a friend's arrowhead collection, some of which he purchased. He's been expanding on his passion ever since. (Courtesy Photo) Huron Coat, ca. 1800-1840. This Huron coat is made from tanned moose hide. It is decorated at the cuffs, shoulders and around the collar with dyed moosehair embroidery and edged with silk and white beads. It is new to the collection at the Museum of Native American History in Bentonville. (Courtesy Photo) FYI Museum of Native American History monah.us