North American Native Museum facts for kids
The North American Native Museum, also known as NONAM, is a special museum in Zurich, Switzerland. It is run by the City of Zurich. This museum focuses on collecting, studying, and showing amazing objects and art from Native American, First Nation, and Inuit cultures. It helps people learn about their rich history and traditions.
Contents
History of NONAM
How the Museum Started
The idea for the North American Native Museum began in 1961. That year, the city of Zurich bought a large collection of items from a man named Gottfried Hotz. This collection was his private hobby.
Two years later, in 1963, Hotz's collection was moved to a school building in Zurich. It was opened to the public as the Indianermuseum der Stadt Zürich. Mr. Hotz stayed in charge as the museum's director until 1977.
New Leaders and New Ideas
In 1977, Hans Läng took over as the museum's curator. He continued to add to the collection, just like Mr. Hotz did. When Mr. Läng retired in 1993, a new director, Denise Daenzer, brought fresh ideas. She wanted the museum to show different parts of its collection. She also started special exhibitions about specific topics.
Becoming the Nordamerika Native Museum
Over time, the museum worked more and more with Native American, Inuit, and First Nation people. Because of this, the museum decided to change its name. In early 2003, the museum moved to its current, larger home in the Seefeld area. It reopened as the Nordamerika Native Museum (NONAM).
The bigger space allowed for more temporary exhibitions. A new area on the second floor, called the pavilion, was also added. This space is used for cultural programs, workshops, and educational activities.
In 2011, for its 50th birthday, NONAM bought more than fifty pieces of modern Indigenous art. This helped the museum show new directions in art. It also showed the museum's goal to share Indigenous viewpoints and start important discussions.
Denise Daenzer continued to lead the museum until she retired in 2012. She was followed by Heidrun Löb, the current director. She continues to help people see Native American cultures in new ways. Today, modern Indigenous art and crafts are a big part of the museum's collection and its shows. The museum also often invites Indigenous artists to give talks, perform, and lead workshops.
Museum Exhibitions
Permanent Displays
Main Exhibition Hall
Some of the museum's collections are always on display on the second floor. These items are arranged by the different culture areas of the Americas in North America. This helps visitors understand how different groups lived.
Bodmer Art Gallery
In 2013, the museum opened a small gallery. It shows original artworks by Karl Bodmer. He was an artist who painted scenes of Native American life.
Soundscape Experience
In the museum's "soundscape" area, visitors can explore the world of the Inuit, Kwakwaka'wakw (Kwakiutl), Hopi, and Diné (Navajo) people. You use only your ears to experience their sounds. This "sounding museum" was recognized by UNESCO in 2010.
Special Exhibitions
Since moving in 2003, NONAM has hosted many special exhibitions. Here are some of them:
- Honouring Our Future – Yukon First Nations Graduation Regalia (April 5, 2025 – September 28, 2025)
- Move – Indigenous Nations in Motion (May 3, 2024 – August 17, 2025)
- Katsinam – Cloud People and Ancestral Spirits (April 22, 2018 – March 3, 2019)
- Leo Yerxa – Tales from the Woodlands (October 5, 2017 – February 25, 2018)
- Bison, Büffel, Buffalo – Decline, Crisis and Comeback of the American Bison (December 20, 2016 – September 3, 2017)
- Calling the Animals – Arctic stories, drawn, printed and carved in stone (March 17, 2016 – July 3, 2016)
- Vanishing Thule – A Culture on thin Ice (October 1, 2015 – February 28, 2016)
- Native Art Now – Contemporary Indigenous Art (November 8, 2014 – June 7, 2015)
- Land, Art, Horizons – Land Reflected in Contemporary Native American Art (April 10, 2014 – September 7, 2014)
- Learning to Survive – Education in Native American, First Nation and Inuit cultures (May 8, 2013 – February 28, 2014)
- Fascinating «Indians» – European Imagination of Native Americans through the Centuries (March 22, 2012 – October 31, 2012)
- From Cod – Liver Oil to Totem Animal – Animals in the Native Cultures of North America (February 10, 2011 – December 31, 2011)
- Mantu'c – The Language of Glass Beads (April 15, 2010 – November 14, 2010)
- Karl Bodmer – A Swiss Artist in North America (February 8, 2009 – August 9, 2009)
- Aiguuq! – Arctic treasures from Swiss Museums (March 8, 2008 – August 17, 2008)
- Life at the Edge of the World – Photographs of Northern Greenland by Markus Bühler–Rasom (November 1, 2007 – February 24, 2008)
- Richly Adorned – Native American Jewelry from Arizona and New Mexico (June 17, 2007 – October 15, 2007)
- Canoe Kayak – Native American and Inuit Boats (September 17, 2006 – May 31, 2007)
- Swiss Pioneers – in the Land of the Lakota and Crow (May 18, 2006 – September 3, 2006)
- Traditions of Change – Contemporary Art of the Athabaskan and Tlingit (September 17, 2005 – April 30, 2006)
- Cherokee People Today – Photographs by David G. Fitzgerald (February 3, 2005 – August 31, 2005)
- Living Environments – Environments of Art Contemporary Iroquois Art (June 5, 2004 – December 31, 2004)
- Katsinam – Ceremonial Figures of the Pueblo Cultures (September 21, 2003 – April 30, 2004)
- Inuit Art – Art for Survival (January 26, 2003 – August 20, 2003)
See also
- List of museums in Switzerland
