All
such contacts with Indian life are exterior. Three forms of
Indian culture are, however, weaving into the life patterns of
America.
(1) The Mexicans have naturally inherited and assimilated
Indian lore about plants, animals, places, all kinds of human
relationships with the land. Through the Mexican medium, with
which he is becoming more sympathetic, the gringo is getting
the ages-old Indian culture.
(2) The Pueblo and Navajo Indians in particular are impressing
their arts, crafts, and ways of life upon special groups of
Americans living near them, and these special groups are
transmitting some of their acquisitions. The special groups
incline to be arty and worshipful, but they express a salutary
revolt against machined existence and they have done much to
revive dignity in Indian life. Offsetting dilettantism, the
Museum of New Mexico and associated institutions and artists
and other individuals have fostered Indian pottery, weaving,
silversmithing, dancing, painting, and other arts and crafts.
Superior craftsmanship can now depend upon a fairly reliable
market; the taste of American buyers has been somewhat
elevated.
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