Identity, Culture, and Art

• Read
  • An interview with Tania Willard on Beat Nation, Indigenous curation and changing the world through art — Discover how Indigenous artists are reshaping cultural and political narratives through art.
  • Teaching “The Night Watchman” Through The Block’s Collection – Explores the intersection of art and storytelling through Louise Erdrich’s novel and the Block Museum’s art collection.

• Listen:
  • “Indigenous Artist to Artist: We Choose Power” (All My Relations Podcast) — Indigenous artists discuss their creative processes and the themes of self-determination.
  • “Celebrating Indigenous Visibility and Creativity with Jeffrey Gibson” (Beyond the Art Podcast) — Jeffrey Gibson reflects on his journey and the significance of visibility in Indigenous art.
• Make: Make: Create a piece inspired by Indigenous artistic traditions
  • Research: Investigate the cultural background and symbolism of your chosen inspiration.
  • Document:Track your creative process, from inspiration to final product. Consider what you're preserving through your choices.
  • Reflect: Write an artist statement describing your piece and its connection to Indigenous art.
  • Ask yourself: What story does your work tell? What might be lost or preserved through your creative process?
• Explore: First American Art Magazine

 💬 Reflection Prompts:

• How does Cara Romero's work challenge or expand your understanding of Indigenous photography?
• How does Indigenous art offer a platform for cultural preservation and resistance? What role does the artist play as archivist?
• Reflect on your creative process. How did researching cultural symbolism shape your approach—and what did you choose to document or leave out?

• Read:
  • Wandering Stars: A Novel, Tommy Orange — a riveting novel that details the Sand Creek Massacre and its repercussions across three generations
  • Explore the Library’s “Sacred Stories” resources on Indigenous literary voices: Sacred Stories Collection
• Watch/Listen: Tommy Orange in conversation with Kaveh Akbar — A discussion on Indigenous storytelling and identity.
• Listen:
  • “Telling True Stories in a Good Way” (All My Relations Podcast) — Insights on the ethical considerations of Indigenous storytelling.
  • “Stories from the Land” — A storytelling podcast rooted in connection to land and history.
• Experience:
  • Join a book club or group discussion on Indigenous literature.
  • Attend a storytelling event to experience traditional storytelling in a communal setting.

 💬 Reflection Prompts:

• How do Indigenous literary works reframe historical events from perspectives often excluded from official archives?
• What ethical considerations arise in storytelling? How might they differ in Indigenous contexts?
• Who decides which stories get published, preserved, and passed down? What responsibilities come with that power?

• Watch:
  • Reel Injun (dir. Neil Diamond) — A documentary examining Hollywood’s portrayal of Native Americans.
  • “What Hollywood Gets Wrong About Native America” (A People’s History, PBS)
• Listen:
  • Media Indigena — A current affairs podcast with Indigenous perspectives.
  • “The Cuts With Sterlin Harjo” Podcast — Conversations on Indigenous media representation.
• Experience: Visit Mitchell Museum’s exhibit “No Rest: The Epidemic of Stolen Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2Spirits” to learn about social justice issues facing Indigenous communities.
• Make: Create a Collage or Digital Mood Board
  • Gather images of positive Native American representations in media.
  • Use a digital tool like Canva or a physical board to assemble your images.
  • Write a caption for each image explaining its significance.
  • Reflect: How might your collection function as a counter-archive? What patterns emerge when you curate these representations together?
• Explore: *Vision Maker Media, a leader in Indigenous storytelling for public broadcasting.*

 💬 Reflection Prompts:

• How have Indigenous artists and media creators reclaimed narratives in visual media—and what does it mean to archive these alternative stories?
• Reflect on your mood board. How did each image challenge or reinforce narratives? What did you choose to preserve and why?
• Whose representations are typically preserved in mainstream archives? How might we build different kinds of collections?

• Read:
  • *Native Fashion Now: North American Indian Style,* Karen Kramer — An exploration of Native fashion’s evolution and cultural impact.
• Watch: Skindigenous — A documentary series highlighting Indigenous tattoo artists and traditional practices.
• Listen:
  • “Indigenous Fashion Innovation: Past, Present, Future” (Dressed: The History of Fashion Podcast)
  • “Inspiring Indigenous Fashion: Osamuskwasis Roan on Tradition, Innovation, and Empowerment” (Beyond The Art Podcast)
• Make: Create a visual essay on Indigenous fashion influences.
  • Document traditional patterns and their meanings.
  • Analyze how these designs are adapted in contemporary fashion.
  • Reflect on cultural protocols and the importance of respect.
  • Consider: How does fashion function as a form of embodied archive? What stories do textiles and adornment preserve across generations?

💬 Reflection Prompts:

• How does Indigenous fashion serve as a form of cultural expression and living archive?
• What statements about identity are made through fashion?
• How does Indigenous fashion challenge prevailing assumptions about style and identity—and what does it mean when these designs are documented, borrowed, or appropriated? 

• Read: *Indigenous Pop: Native American Music from Jazz to Hip Hop,* Jeff Berglund — Examines Indigenous influence across music genres.
• Listen:
  • “Exploring the Sonic Landscape of Identity, Culture, and Connection with KP of Black Belt Eagle Scout” (Beyond the Art Podcast)
  • “Revealing Indigenous Soundscapes: An Interview with Tony Enos” (Beyond the Art Podcast)
  • “Indigenous Influence on the Punk Music Scene” (Unreserved, CBC Radio)
• Make: Write a reflection on your personal rituals and traditions, considering their cultural significance.
  • Consider creating your own "sonic archive"—a playlist that documents music meaningful to you and your communities.

💬 Reflection Prompts:

• How does Indigenous music reflect cultural identity and adaptation? What does it mean to preserve sonic traditions?
• Reflect on how your own traditions connect to broader cultural narratives. What would it mean to document them for future generations?

• Read:
  • Postcolonial Love Poem, Natalie Diaz — An exploration of love, land, and survival.
  • *New Poets of Native Nations,* Heid E. Erdrich
• Watch/Listen: Poetry readings from the Library of Congress's Native American Heritage Month series
• Listen: “Tommy Pico vs. Instinct” (VS the Podcast, The Poetry Foundation)
• Make: Write a poem responding to themes in Postcolonial Love Poem, reflecting on how colonization has influenced U.S. society.
  • Consider: How might poetry function as archival practice? What do you choose to remember, document, or imagine through your writing?
• Explore: “Native American Poetry and Culture,” a selection of poets, poems, and articles exploring the Native American experience

💬 Reflection Prompts:

• How do contemporary Indigenous poets like Natalie Diaz use poetry to reclaim and reshape cultural narratives? What makes poetry a unique form of memory-keeping?
• Reflect on your poem. How did you convey the impact of historical events—and what did you choose to preserve or interrogate?
• Whose voices are preserved in literary archives? How might we expand what gets documented and remembered?