SONS OF THE THUNDERBIRD La Rochelle—The Musée du Nouveau Monde de La Rochelle, which is dedicated to the relationship between France and the Americas, is opening a series of five exhibitions devoted to the indigenous peoples of North America. The first in the series, Les Fils de l’Oiseau-Tonnerre, les Indiens de la Côte Est (The Sons of the Thunderbird, the Indians of the East Coast), on view until September 23, 2013, highlights the Woodlands cultural area, a territory that extends west from the Atlantic coast to the Mississippi River. This vast zone is inhabited by a variety of groups that are divided into three distinct linguistic subgroups, whose lifeways differ according to the environment. While varied, these groups display a certain degree of cultural homogeneity, which the exhibition reflects. The objects on display come from the museum’s holdings as well as from exclusively French public and private collections. It both assumes and expresses a French collectors’ perspective of North American Indians over time. The oldest objects on view come from eighteenth- or early nineteenth century curiosity cabinets, such as the former Royal Cabinet, the Sainte-Geneviève Library collection in Paris, and the Robien Collection at the Musée des Beaux Arts in Rennes. The curator, Annick Notter, has also selected rare pieces with often unexpected provenances, like a Huron Wampum necklace from Chartres Cathedral, an Illinois painted hide from the Musée de Besançon, and a Huron ball club from the Musée d’Archéologie in Saint- Germain-en-Laye. Relying also on documentary sources, which include old prints and engravings, the exhibition delivers essential information for understanding the world of these North American peoples, which remains little known to the larger European public. Left: False Face Society mask. 19th century. Wood, red pigment. H: 28 cm. Musée du Nouveau Monde, La Rochelle. © Max Roy. Below: Robe. Late 17th–18th century? Hide, mineral pigment. L: 145 cm. Musee des Beaux-Arts et d’Archeologie, Besançon. © Besancçon, J. L. Dousson. Right: Antoine Tzapoff (Paris, b. 1945) Indien Mohawk, 2013. Acrylic on canvas. 55 x 46 cm. Private collection. Photo: J. L. Losi. Bottom left: Mohawk man, English, attributed to George Heriot, late 18th century. Watercolor. 19.5 x 12.5 cm. Musee du Nouveau Monde, La Rochelle. © Max Roy. Joseph Stadler after George Heriot, Costume of Domiciliated Indians of North America. C. 1810. Etching with watercolor. 24 x 38 cm. Musee du Nouveau Monde, La Rochelle. © Max Roy.
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