OFPL hosts traveling exhibition about migration
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Gallup had a population of almost 21,000 people in July 2022. Of that population, 25.6% of people are white; 1.5% are Black; 47.2% are Native American; and 31.7% are Hispanic/Latinx. People come from all over, and land in Gallup. But what brought them here? How did they end up here?
A new Octavia Fellin Public Library exhibit looks to answer those questions while taking a look at the topic of human migration.
OFPL was one of 15 libraries in the U.S. selected to host the traveling exhibition, World on the Move: 250,000 Years of Human Migration. The exhibit, developed by the American Anthropological Association and the Smithsonian’s Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage, will open at the Rex Museum on July 14 and close on Aug. 11.
By presenting case studies from across human history and an array of cultures, World on the Move invites visitors to recognize that migration is a complex and diverse shared human experience. The exhibition aims to expand the public conversation on the topic of migration and displacement.
OFPL’s Deputy Director Betty Martin said she’s excited to get the people of Gallup talking about migration.
“We just want to expand the public’s conversation about the topic of migration and displacement. There’s a lot of it in this community,” Martin said.
Martin said migration and genealogy have always been topics of interest for her.
“I’ve been doing a lot of genealogy work, so I’m kind of interested in all the historical stuff that’s happened in Gallup and how it came to be and how people have come to be here,” Martin said. “That’s one of my favorite questions when people come here from somewhere else and they’ve been here for a long time. How did you end up here? What brought you here?”
One feature of the exhibit allows people to take photos of themselves and post them on a wall. It gives people a chance to share where they come from and tell their story.
“We encourage visitors of World on the Move to discuss issues surrounding cultural differences and to feel proud of their family’s own traditions and migration stories,” OFPL Director Tammi Moe said.
As part of the exhibition, OFPL received a stipend to present programming related to the topic of migration.
During the opening night of the exhibit, the library will host Breaking Bread Gallup. This is a chance for people to explore culture through food. They will be featuring many types of breads, including focaccia, baguettes, pandesal, pita bread, fry bread, kiis’áanii bread, oven bread, sopapillas, monju, pretzels, soda bread, and pinca.
The event starts at 6 pm on July 14 at the Rex Museum, 300 W. Hwy. 66. After opening night, the exhibit will be open to the public Thursdays-Sundays. Admission to the museum is free.
By Molly Ann Howell
Managing Editor
