The Abbe Celebrates!

The Smithsonian Affiliate flag flying  proudly at the Abbe!

On Friday, July 5th from 5:00 - 7:00 pm, the Abbe celebrated many successes: our status as a Smithsonian Affiliate, the Smithsonian traveling exhibit Indivisible: African-Native American Lives in the Americas and the 20th Annual Native American Festival and Basketmakers Market - and we threw in our Annual Meeting to boot! It was a perfect evening: beautiful weather, 150 guests and wonderful speeches by Harold Closter, Director of Smithsonian Affiliations, Kevin Gover, Director of the National Museum of the American Indian and Theresa Secord, Executive Director of the Maine Indian Basketmakers Alliance. Some memorable quotes from the evening:

Harold Closter presenting Cinnamon Catlin-Legutko,  Abbe President and CEO, with the Abbe's Affiliation certificate.

Harold Closter: "It is absolutely clear that you are doing great work here at the Abbe, and we are so thrilled to be partnering with you."

"I have been blown away by the vibrancy and enduring quality of art and culture in this region."

"Through our partnership with the Abbe, we hope to reach more and more people here, especially those who cannot come to Washington, while also spreading the work of the Abbe nationally."

Kevin Gover

Kevin Gover: "It is very gratifying to us to see how the museums are working with Native American communities and the partnership that they are developing; and you can see everywhere around you here that the Abbe is developing a fine relationship with the tribal communities."

Theresa Secord

Theresa Secord: "We have so much appreciation for the Abbe for working so closely with us; the gift shop here is the largest retail seller of Wabanaki baskets in Maine."