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American Indian Ceremonial Flag
1878-1884
Henry Karunach (d. 1888)
USA: Virginia, Hampton
Gouache on paper
overall: 8-1/8"h x 6-1/8"w
Gift of Mr. and Mrs. George D. Payne
79.51.7

American Indian Ceremonial Flag drawing; watercolor painting on paper shows American Indian design in black, red, green, blue; ceremonial flag with potted flowers on either side; signed in black at lower right, "Henry Karunach"; reverse has handwritten inscription reading "The work of an Indian / at Hampton School."


The Hampton Institute, where Henry Kaunach (d. 1888) studied, taught trades, English language and other subjects with the now dubiously regarded goal of "civilizing" young Native Americans. There, Karunach, an Arickara from North Dakota, whose name meant "Sioux Boy," honed his English skills and learned how to make shoes.