Warner, N.H. - The Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum (MKIM) in Warner, N.H. has hired Shawn Olson (Nakona/Wyandotte) as its new Executive Director.   Olson replaces Krista Katz who left in April to spend more time with her family.

Originally from northeastern Montana, Olson joins MKIM after two years of doctorate work in Community Economic Development at Southern New Hampshire University.  Prior to moving to New Hampshire she taught business courses for four years at the Fort Peck Community College, on the Fort Peck Assiniboine & Sioux Reservation where she is enrolled. 

Olson graduated in 2001 with a Master of Business Administration degree from The University of Montana-Missoula where she also completed coursework toward a Masters degree in Sociology before taking a job teaching at the community college on her home reservation.  “My dad became ill with terminal cancer and this was a chance to move home to be close to him.  I ended up teaching for four years”. says Olson. “The year my second youngest graduated from high school I decided it was ‘now or never’ for doctoral study.  I looked around, found the community economic development program at SNHU, and here I am in New Hampshire.” In addition to the impressive academic and cultural background she brings with her to MKIM, Olson has over thirty years experience working with Native American community groups. Her work experience includes four years as board chair at the Missoula Indian Center, two years executive director of a native American arts cooperative and gallery, two years as an intern with the National American Indian Business Leaders (AIBL) and two years service as secretary/treasurer of the Fort Peck Reservation Assiniboine Council, and three years with The Bison Camp, as well as numerous years working with student and community groups.

Olson says, “Involvement in Native American organizations and causes is in my blood. My parents helped start one of the first college Indian clubs in the nation.  And my father was involved with the creation of the first museum on our reservation as well as contributed to other local museums in Montana and North Dakota”.

Trustee Lee Richmond said of Olson, "I'm very excited about bringing Shawn on as our new Executive Director because of her considerable business and entrepreneurial experience. These are difficult times for museums in general, and to prosper we need to expand our horizons into new business models."

In her new role, Olson will be responsible for oversight of museum operations, fundraising, and marketing.  Her first goals as museum director are to increase awareness in the community of the museum services; incorporate contemporary Native life experiences into exhibits and programming; draw together Native peoples living in the area; foster Native American involvement in MKIM activities; expand the educational programming and special events; and raise funds to support activities, increase staff and buy the property.

”Ms. Olson was a wonderful find for us at the Museum” agrees Steve Pitman, Vice-Chair of the Board of Trustees , “Shawn is a Native American, which we all thought was important to promote our tremendous collection and displays of ancient artifacts from across the country. Shawn brings us the same excitement and enthusiasm that got the Museum started 17 years ago by founders Bud and Nancy Thompson. We also will rely on Shawn to oversee the addition of the Howard Sargent Collection into our Museum.  Her business training and cultural background will be a true asset to our organization.”
About the Museum

Mt. Kearsarge Indian Museum, Education and Cultural Center, is dedicated to connecting people of today with 20,000 years of ongoing Native American cultural expression and encourages responsible environmental action based on respect for nature. By focusing on the continuity of North American Indian life ways, MKIM celebrates the astounding diversity indigenous to this continent.  The ancient and historic interconnection of these cultures to their environments is stressed, with everything needed and wanted for daily life derived from the natural world. Through exhibitions and programs, the Museum seeks to challenge and inspire all of us to improve the quality of our lives and our world. The galleries contain predominantly historic, but also prehistoric and contemporary, objects of beauty emphasizing the Northeast Woodlands, while also presenting artifacts from the Southeast, Southwest, Plains, West Coast, Northwest Coast, and Alaska.  In addition to the galleries and Medicine Woods tours, MKIM hosts four events each year: Celebrate the Earth (May), a 2-day Powwow (July), the Harvest Moon Festival (September), and the Winter Celebration (November).  The museum also presents traveling exhibits, Native American artist one-person shows, and Turtle Island summer camp.   For more information about the museum, visit www.indianmuseum.org or call 603-456-2600.