<html><head><style type="text/css"><!-- DIV {margin:0px;} --></style></head><body><div style="font-family:times new roman, new york, times, serif;font-size:14pt"><P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">It is very interesting that you have chosen Native American symbols as a place to start your artistic ideas for a mural, but it looks as though you have chosen symbols from southwestern Indians.<?xml:namespace prefix = o ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Are you aware that we have a very long and influential history of Native American culture in the <?xml:namespace prefix = st1 ns = "urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags" /><st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Riverdale</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> area?<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">The kind of native American that resided in this area were the Woodland Indians. Woodland Indian period was from 1000 BC to 1600 AD.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Captain John Smith explored the upper <st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Anacostia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType>, which included the tributaries in today's <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Riverdale</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. In fact, the area you propose is located near to a tributary of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Anacostia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place>. The Indians he found near the tributaries of the <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Anacostia</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">River</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> were called the Nacotchtanke. <st1:place w:st="on"><st1:PlaceName w:st="on">Riverdale</st1:PlaceName> <st1:PlaceType w:st="on">Park</st1:PlaceType></st1:place> is part of
the Anacostia River Trail and a Federally designated historic district.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt">Many residents in the area have found arrowheads while digging in their yards and therefore have experienced a connection with the past.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<DIV><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">A mural with Native American symbolism in this town would be better served if it had representative symbols of the indigenous people of the Anacostia region.</SPAN></DIV>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA"></SPAN> </P>
<P><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 14pt; FONT-FAMILY: 'Times New Roman'; mso-fareast-font-family: 'Times New Roman'; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA">Melissa </SPAN></P>
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<B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">From:</SPAN></B> Christopher Martin <chrism@pgcps.org><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">To:</SPAN></B> towntalk@riverdale-park.org<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Cc:</SPAN></B> Alice Ewen Walker <alice@ewenwalker.com>; James n Julie Coleman <jnjcolemans@yahoo.com><BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Sent:</SPAN></B> Tuesday, April 21, 2009 11:09:49 AM<BR><B><SPAN style="FONT-WEIGHT: bold">Subject:</SPAN></B> [RP TownTalk] Mural Idealist<BR></FONT><BR>
<DIV>Hello Riverdale Town Talkers,</DIV>
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<DIV>A note from Community Based Classroom Teacher / Riverdale Resident / mural planner:</DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>I<SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse">n my class's conception of this mural -- the rainbow squares and/or other squares in this rough sketch (see http://www.muralcollaborative.netfirms.com/muralintro.htm) could be filled with symbols designed by local artists/ community members, working side by side with CBC students. In that sense, if there are any strong Symbols of Riverdale that Historic Preservationists want to fit into the mural - you're more than welcome to. There are about 7-10 or more squares available with this sketch. We'd love to have and want input/asistance from any artists or aspiring artists from town - neighbors Jim L and Sherita S... that means you! :) </SPAN>
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<DIV><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse">If we - cbc artists, riverdale artists/community members- wanted to change the design to some degree to include landscapes/moments from town history.. we could do that also. The process of community involvement is as important as the artwork in this mural. The challenge is getting multiple artists/ideas into a coherent mural. I think the sketch's division by squares / rainbow of symbols has the potential to incorporate many different perspectives into a unified landscape. By allowing CBC students to follow through with their initiative here, getting community involvement (including the elementary school too) from experienced artists and beginners - this mural can serve many purposes. It's a big enough bridge for us all to fit under it! </SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV><SPAN class=Apple-style-span style="BORDER-COLLAPSE: collapse">CBC students would like to start attending the Thursday Market to assist us locals create potential design squares, have a children's drawing space, and raise a little $ for the project, but as of yet have not gotten the go ahead from Town / Market leaders. Town / market leaders... what's up?</SPAN></DIV>
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<DIV>For more info about CBC and its students go to <A href="http://www.pgcps.org/~cbc" target=_blank rel=nofollow>www.pgcps.org/~cbc</A>.</DIV>
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<DIV>Thanks for your time.</DIV>
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<DIV>Chris Martin </DIV>
<DIV>301-918-8726</DIV>
<DIV><A href="mailto:chrism@pgcps.org" target=_blank rel=nofollow ymailto="mailto:chrism@pgcps.org">chrism@pgcps.org</A></DIV></SPAN></DIV></DIV></DIV></DIV></div><br>
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