Walking into the Seattle Art Museum to experience this once in a lifetime retrospective was emotionally gut wrenching. It was hard not to see think "what took so long!" In the 60 years that Jaune Quick to-See has been creating art it took until 2022 for the Whitney to feature the first solo retrospective of a Native artist. That collection eventually made its way to Seattle as a traveling exhibition for an Salish artist that hails from the Flathead reservation in Montana.
Multi-media
Joe (Wahalatsu?) Seymour Jr. of Squaxin Island and Pueblo of Acoma, started his artistic career by carving his first paddle for the 2003 Tribal Journey to Tulalip. Also in 2003, he carved his first bentwood box. After the Tulalip journey, he then learned how to stretch and make drums.
Tanis S'eiltin creates artworks that explore her identity as a Tlingit (Native Alaskan) woman living in the 21st century. Combining traditional and contemporary artistic techniques, S'eiltin notes that her work "questions the misrepresentation of Indigenous peoples in Western academia, media, and in the minds of mainstream Americans."
I pay homage and utmost respect to my grandparents and ancestors along my journey and in embarking on co-creating this site. To my grandmothers who raised me in the matrilineal tradition where women run the show. To Nana Mattie (Tuscarora, Eastern Band of Cherokee), my maternal grandmother, who left her ancestral lands in North Carolina for opportunities in the New York City area--who taught me the importance of being water people through a diet of smoked fish, spiced crab and strong intuition. Nana Lane, of Lenape ancestry, always said "don't let the sun set on hate" and stood up to anybody who dared to direct injustice her way. To my grandfather Papa Lane (Creek/Lenape), who ingrained the power of connection to the land--growing food, hunting the traditional way, and fishing so we always knew where and how our food was sourced.
Dallas Goldworth (Dakota and Dine') co-founded the Indigenous comedy group The 1491s and currently contributes to the series Reservation Dogs. In addition he is an environmental activist and performing artist. Dallas is a Dakota culture and language teacher, as well as, a poet, traditional artist, and powwow emcee.
We share some of our favorite highlights from Stommish at Lummi Nation this year. Always enjoy the creative offerings from Jason LaClair, Creative Cuzzin, Copper Canoe Woman and SiLowLeetSa Arts throughout the year.
We were so filled up on gorgeous dancing, art and Navajo tacos. Can't wait for next year to see all the beautiful people and family again at Daybreak Star Cultural Center's annual Seafair Powwow!
Joe Feddersen, a member of the Colville Confederated Tribes lives and works in Omak, WA. A faculty member at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, WA from 1989 until his retirement in 2009, he was awarded Faculty Emeritus Status.
Natalie Ball, a multi-media Klamath artist, was born and raised in Portland, Oregon. She has a Bachelor’s degree with a double major in Indigenous, Race & Ethnic Studies & Art from the University of Oregon. She furthered her education in Aotearoa (NZ) at Massey University where she attained her Master’s degree with a focus on Indigenous contemporary art.