[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 151 (2005), Part 14]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 19401]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




       IN HONOR OF BARBARA ARVI ON THE OCCASION OF HER RETIREMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. XAVIER BECERRA

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                         Friday, July 29, 2005

  Mr. BECERRA. Mr. Speaker, it is with utmost pleasure and privilege 
that I rise today to pay tribute to Ms. Barbara Arvi, an outstanding 
educator and passionate advocate for American Indian culture in 
southern California. This year, Ms. Arvi retired after 22 years of 
commitment and exceptional service to the Southwest Museum of the 
American Indian in Los Angeles, California.
  Barbara started as a docent with the Southwest Museum in 1983. She 
leaves now as the very accomplished Director of Education. During her 
tenure Barbara played an active and critical role in virtually every 
museum department. She served as curator and co-curator on several 
exhibits featuring the rich heritage of American Indian cultures. As 
director of the museum's Intertribal Marketplace, Barbara worked with 
countless artists from around the country to showcase the art, music 
and dance of native cultures. She understood so well the importance of 
infusing the Southwest Museum's programs and exhibits with a true 
native voice.
  As a museum educator, Barbara made great strides in promoting 
accurate and respectful portrayals of American Indian culture and 
history in classrooms throughout California. She served as a 
Commissioner and Chair of the Curriculum Review and Salary Point 
Committee on the Los Angeles American Indian Education Commission of 
the Los Angeles Unified School District. Barbara partnered with the 
Arroyo Seco Museum Magnet School to create and implement the Junior 
Docent program to provide neighborhood youth with hands-on experience 
and curriculum in museum studies, as well as train students to become 
active, contributing docents at the Southwest Museum.
  To Barbara, teaching involved more than the basics. As the founder of 
the museum's Ethno-botanical Garden, Barbara taught visitors about the 
importance of California's native plants and ecology. She established 
the innovative ``Dig-It'' program which provides young students with a 
simulated archaeological excavation project to teach history, 
archaeology and ecology. She also developed the American Indian 
Mentorship Program, which enabled American Indian artists to share 
their experiences with native youth to foster their skills and interest 
in the arts.
  Since 1993 Barbara has played an instrumental role in the success of 
the nationally recognized Congressional Art Competition, ``An Artistic 
Discovery'' open to students throughout the country, including students 
of the 31st Congressional District. Whatever was needed she was always 
there to lend a helping hand. From opening the doors of the Southwest 
Museum for the competition's awards ceremony for this congressional 
district to judging the student artwork, Barbara's participation was 
all-encompassing. The people of the 31st Congressional District and I 
are truly grateful to Barbara for her dedication and generosity to our 
annual student art competition.
  Mr. Speaker, it is with great admiration and pride that I ask my 
colleagues to join me today to salute an exceptional woman. Barbara 
Arvi has made the Southwest Museum a meaningful, lasting, and vital 
cultural center for Southern California and the Nation.

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