Imagine traveling through time to 1961. The city of Zurich acquired Gottfried Hotz’s private collection. This marked the beginning of what we now know as the North American Native Museum.
The North American Native Museum or Nordamerika Native Museum NONAM is a treasure. Zurich runs this museum dedicated to Native American, First Nation, and Inuit cultures. It plays a vital role. It conserves documents and showcases ethnographic objects and artwork.
Two years after the acquisition the Hotz collection found a home. It was installed in a school building in Zurich’s Aussersihl district. The Indianermuseum der Stadt Zürich opened its doors to the public.
Hans Läng succeeded Hotz as curator in 1977. He expanded the collection until his retirement in 1993. Denise Daenzer took over. She re-oriented the museum’s work. Daenzer presented varying and special exhibitions. These exhibitions addressed specific topics.
Collaboration grew with Native Americans Inuit and First Nations. A change of name seemed appropriate. In 2003 the museum moved. It opened in the Seefeld district as the Nordamerika Native Museum NONAM. Denise Daenzer continued as director. She expanded the collections and curated exhibitions until 2012. Heidrun Löb is the current director since 2012.
Let’s step inside the North American Native Museum. A part of the museum’s collection is on permanent display. It is on the second floor. The arrangement reflects the cultural areas of the Americas. These areas are frequently used in cultural anthropology.
In 2013 the museum expanded. It added the Bodmer Gallery. This small gallery displays original works of Karl Bodmer.
Don’t miss the “soundscape” installation. Visitors explore the world of the Inuit Kwakwaka’wakw Hopi and Diné Navajo. You experience these cultures through sound. UNESCO accredited this “sounding museum”. It was a contribution to the International Year for the Rapprochement of Cultures in 2010.
The North American Native Museum NONAM has hosted special exhibitions. “Katsinam – Cloud People and Ancestral Spirits” was shown. “Leo Yerxa – Tales from the Woodlands” was another exhibition. “Bison Büffel Buffalo – Decline Crisis and Comeback of the American Bison” attracted many visitors.
Other exhibitions include “Calling the Animals” and “Vanishing Thule”. “Native Art Now” and “Land Art Horizons” showcased contemporary art. “Learning to Survive” focused on education. “Fascinating «Indians»” explored European imagination. “From Cod – Liver Oil to Totem Animal” examined animals in native cultures.
The North American Native Museum NONAM also creates publications. These publications are usually in German. They offer deeper insights into the museum’s themes. Examples include “Vanishing Thule” and “Native Art Now”. Another is “Faszination Indianer”. An English booklet accompanies it upon request.
The North American Native Museum is more than just a museum. It is a bridge. It connects cultures and preserves heritage. It offers a unique glimpse into the diverse worlds of North America’s native peoples. It enriches our understanding of humanity’s shared story.