Paul Chaat Smith facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Paul Chaat Smith
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Gerald McMaster (left), Paul Chaat Smith (center), and Joseph Sanchez (right) in a panel discussion, 2008
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| Occupation | Author, curator |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American (Comanche Nation) |
| Genre | Native American studies |
Paul Chaat Smith is a writer and a special expert (called a curator) at the National Museum of the American Indian. He often writes and talks about Native American art and how Native American groups are involved in politics. He is a member of the Comanche Nation.
Contents
Early Life and Family
Paul Smith was born in Texas. His mother, Pauline Rosalee Chaat, was Comanche. His father, Clodus R. Smith, is Choctaw and was the president of several colleges. Paul's grandfather, Rev. Dr. Robert Paul Chaat, Sr., was also an important leader.
After living in Texas, his family moved to different places like Ithaca, New York, Maryland, and Cleveland, Ohio. Paul's parents really believed in education. They even started a scholarship at Cameron University in Lawton, Oklahoma, to help Native American students go to college.
Paul Chaat Smith's sister, Marti Chaatsmith, is also Comanche and Choctaw. She works to protect ancient Native American earthworks in Ohio. These are special mounds built by Native Americans long ago.
Paul Chaat Smith's Career
Working as a Curator
Since 2001, Paul Chaat Smith has been a curator at the National Museum of the American Indian. A curator is someone who helps organize and care for museum collections and exhibitions.
- In 2004, he helped set up the museum's main history gallery.
- In 2017, he created a big exhibit called Americans, which lasted for ten years.
- He also worked with other curators to show the art of James Luna at a famous art event in Venice, Italy, in 2005.
- From 2008 to 2009, he organized a large show about the artist Fritz Scholder.
- From 2009 to 2010, he put together a show for Canadian artist Brian Jungen.
Smith has helped many other Native American and Aboriginal Canadian artists show their work. Some of these artists include Richard Ray Whitman, Faye HeavyShield, and Kent Monkman.
Writing Books
Paul Chaat Smith has written several important books.
- He co-wrote Like a Hurricane: The Indian Movement from Alcatraz to Wounded Knee (1996) with Robert Allen Warrior. This book tells the story of major Native American protests. It talks about the 1969 Occupation of Alcatraz, the 1972 Trail of Broken Treaties protest in Washington, D.C., and the 1973 Wounded Knee Occupation.
- His book Everything You Know about Indians Is Wrong (2009) took him 16 years to write. It's a funny and informative book that shares his thoughts and experiences.
Other Contributions
Paul Chaat Smith has given talks at important places like the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. He also helped as an advisor for a PBS TV series called We Shall Remain. He specifically advised on the episode about Wounded Knee.
