More than 60,000 people pulsed to the beat of native drums Tuesday as American Indians from around the hemisphere gathered for the opening of the National Museum of the American Indian.
It was the largest gathering of American Indians in history. After a conch shell sounded at 9:30 a.m., tribes in full native dress paraded in alphabetical order from the Smithsonian castle to the new museum.
The diversity of the native nations was apparent, as tribes from as far away as Guam and Alaska filed past onlookers.
"Everybody here is the same family," said Sylvio Rosario, a member of the Carribean Taino tribe. As she watched an Alaskan tribe pass by, she said both her tribe and the Alaskans are travelers, further uniting them.
Mario Skyryder, a Kogod alumnus, said the tribes are united by the same interest, to honor their traditions.
"We have retained so much of our traditions, we have so much to teach our children," said Skyryder.
Many non-Indians went to the museum to witness history and show their support of the American Indian community.
"They finally get a museum, that's why I'm going," said Kim Dawson, a junior at AU.
Intertwined with the typical Washington crowd were Indians in full head dresses. Some were carrying unusual accessories, such as a staff topped with an eagle head.
Gaiashkibos, former president of the National Congress of American Indians, was there with his wife, Judi Gaiashkibos, marching in support of the federal recognition of Hawaiian tribes.
Gaiashkibos, who goes by one name, said he enjoyed "all the pagentry, all the nations gathered there" during the opening celebration the most.
W. Richard West Jr., director of the National Museum of the American Indian, addressed the crowd.
"All men were made by the same great spirit. They are brothers," he said, quoting Chief Joseph, who died on the same day in 1879.
"I say, on this Sept. 21, to those of you within sight and sound of this occasion who descend from those who came, 'Welcome to America,'" West said. "And I say to those of you who descend from the native ancestors who were here, 'Welcome home.'"
The museum will be open 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. daily, though today until Sept. 26 it will open at 9 a.m. Also, a performance titled "Spirit - The Seventh Fire" will take place until Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 5 p.m. It is a multimedia performance that will include music, dance and philosophy.
