The 2017 MCPPP Conference will be held on September 14-17, 2017 along the mighty Columbia River in Southwestern Washington, just east of Vancouver, WA. Though the event is being held in the northwest the presentations will cover a variety of historic 19th century Prairie, Plains, and Plateau material culture topics. In addition, we will have vendors selling craft goods, beads, and books plus we will have a group tour of Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
Presentations Location (and Host Hotel)
Best Western Plus Parkersville Inn & Suites
121 S 2nd Street
Washougal, WA 98671
Phone: 360-835-9292
The host hotel site is just minutes from Portland International Airport (PDX), downtown Portland, OR and Vancouver, WA, and just east of historic Fort Vancouver National Historic Site.
NOTE: Ask for the “MCP” rate which is $125 +tax per night for a king room or $136 + tax per night for a room with two queen beds. Discounted conference rate available until August 14, 2017
Conference Schedule (Tentative)
Thursday: Registration in the evening, meet and greet time with attendees and vendors, and socializing in the evening
Friday: Presentations in the morning, lunch on your own, presentations in the early afternoon, tour of Fort Vancouver NHS in late afternoon, group dinner, socializing in the evening; vendors available throughout the day and evening
Saturday: Presentations in the morning, lunch on your own, presentations in the afternoon, socializing in the evening; vendors available throughout the day and evening
Sunday: Adjourn for travel home or to explore the area
Regitration
Early registration fee is $100.00
(Registration fee increases to $125.00 after August 14, 2017)
To REGISTER for our conference, download the Conference Registration form and follow instructions for payment and mailing. Space is limited to 50 registrants!
[su_accordion][su_spoiler title=”Conference Speakers”] Allen Chronister is a retired attorney and independent researcher with a lifelong interest in the history and people of the American west. He has particular interests in the Rocky Mountain fur trade and the history and ethnology of native Americans and the material culture of the Plains tribes. Allen is a prolific bead worker and has authored numerous articles including his popular “Glimpses” column in Whispering Wind magazine which examines material culture in historic photographs. Allen’s presentation will be: “The Thomas Twiss Collection at the American Museum of Natural History”.
Col. Rodney Thomas is a retired 30 year veteran of the U.S. Army. His first book, Rubbing Out Long Hair (Pehin Hanska Kasota), about the Indian warrior art and testimony about the battle of the Little Big Horn in 1876, was published in 2009 and awarded the 2010 G. Joseph Sills Jr. Book Award by the Custer Battlefield Historical and Museum Association. Rod’s presentation will be: “Nez Perce Warrior Art”.
Bill Holm, Professor Emeritus of Art History, and Curator Emeritus of Northwest Coast Indian Art at the Burke Museum, is recognized internationally as one of the most knowledgeable experts in the field of Northwest Coast Native art history. His groundbreaking book, Northwest Coast Indian Art: An Analysis of Form, was originally published in 1965 and is credited with having drawn numerous artists into their own practice of Northwest Coast art. Bill’s presentation will be: “My Life as an Ickpoo”
Steven L. Grafe, PhD, is curator of art at Maryhill Museum of Art in Goldendale, WA. Prior to joining the staff at Maryhill, he was curator of American Indian art at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City, OK. He is the author of Peoples of the Plateau: The Indian Photographs of Lee Moorhouse, 1898-1915 and Lanterns on the Prairie: The Blackfeet Photographs of Walter McClintock. Steve’s presentation will be: “Plateau Basketry”.
Ken Weidner, a farmer and rancher from Copeland, KS, has taken a lifelong interest in Plains Indian culture from simply reading to learning how to tan hides, make bead work, silver work, construct bows and arrows, paint rawhide parfleche and many other craft forms. His specialty is making Indian saddles and horse tack. (Yes, although Indians did ride bareback, they also made and used saddles) Learning to actually make items helps him learn how Plains Indians lived their lives. Ken has served on the board of the Fort Larned Old Guard and has had several of his saddles and German silver bridles featured in major movies such as “The Homesman” and the forthcoming AMC series “The Son”. His museum quality replica Plains Indian saddles are on display at major U.S. museums and national historic sites. Ken’s presentation will be: “Plateau Saddles and Horse Regalia”.
Scott M. Thompson, of Spokane, WA is a retired art teacher, independent researcher, and author of I Will Tell of My War Story: A Pictorial Account of the Nez Perce War. Scott’s Presentation will be “Incised Rawhide Techniques”
Mark Miller, a resident of Montana’s Flathead Valley, has been involved in creating authentic replicas of old time traditional native style art for over 40 years. He worked for several years as a teacher at a vocational school in Grouard, Alberta, Canada amidst three large Cree reserves teaching fine arts courses as well as beading, quill work, hide tanning, etc. He is a prolific artist whose work is much sought after by collectors, major Western artists, and costume designers. Mark has an expansive background in artifact restoration working on artifacts in major museums and private collections. Mark’s presentation will be: “By the Same Hand?”
Richard Storch, Bio pending. Presentation will be: “A Brief History of Photography and the Plateau Indians”
Richard Kuh, who retired after a 30+ year career in emergency medical services, currently serves as deputy coroner of Stevens County, WA and resides in Colville, Washington. He has been immersed in native culture for over fifty years and is an annual participant in a sun dance on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. He has written articles on Plains Indian material culture and currently focuses much of his study on historic and modern Plateau material culture and tradition. Rick’s presentation will be: “Eagles Feathers and the Law”
Jesse Richardson, who resides in Mineral Wells, Texas, is an accomplished brain tanner, craftsman, and bead worker who holds himself to a very high standard of authenticity in his work. He uses antique seed beads and sinew sews his creations to authentically replicate Southern Plains style regalia and items for his personal enjoyment. He has had a life long fascination with Plains culture and has taken his interests far beyond reading about the “buffalo days” of the past to actually getting a working knowledge of how things were made using a very hands on approach. He produces museum quality replications of the items that most casual fans of history only see behind the glass of museum display cases. He is especially interested in Southern Cheyenne culture and has constructed his own buffalo hide tipi with bison hides he brain tanned himself. Jesse will discuss his personal quest to learn by doing in his presentation: “My Personal Quest to Recreate 1860s Southern Cheyenne Material Culture Items”[/su_spoiler][/su_accordion]
Mark your calendar today so you don’t miss the next MCPPP Conference.