‘Realities Of

 Survival’ At IAIS

WASHINGTON — Indian Peoples traded corn, animal skins, stone tools, pots and wampum beads for centuries before contact with Europeans. Trade networks expanded in the 1600s to include European ships, colonial settlements, and trading posts.

As European colonialism spread throughout North America after 1700 and the size of Native communities shrank dramatically, indigenous peoples sought to adapt their traditional economies to the new realities. Articles once made for personal use quickly became valuable commodities to be sold or traded for manufactured goods. The introduction of new materials stimulated the creativity of Native American craftsmanship and allowed them to develop and extend their unique cultural traditions into the future. 

A collection of such items will be on view in the George A.G. Darlow Exhibit Hall at The Institute for American Indian Studies all year. The exhibition, “Made For Trade: Realities of Economic Survival,” will open on January 15 and will remain on view until December 31.

Museum hours are Monday through Saturday from 10 am until 5 pm and Sunday, noon to 5 pm. Call 860-868-0518 or visit birdstone.org for additional information.