National Museum of the American Indian

How are Indigenous street artists using mural painting, graffiti, billboards, and other mediums to build community and draw attention to issues meaningful to them? Join River Garza (Tongva), Melissa Govea (Purépecha), and Reyna Hernandez (Yankton Sioux) as they discuss their personal and cultural inspirations as well as other influences on their practices, such as the importance of place and why they are drawn to work in the public sphere. River T. Garza (Tongva) is an Indigenous interdisciplinary visual artist based out of Los Angeles, CA. His art draws on traditional Indigenous aesthetics, Southern California Indigenous maritime culture, graffiti, skateboarding, and low-rider art. Garza's work can be found in private and permanent collections such as the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, the Autry Museum of the American West, and the IAIA Museum of American Indian Arts. Melissa Govea (Purépecha) is a multidisciplinary creative raised in Yangna-occupied Tongva territory, also known as South Central Los Angeles. She specializes in traditional sign painting and screen printing, and her work is heavily rooted in her culture and lived experiences. Govea trained under journeyman sign painter Doc Guthrie at Los Angeles Trade Tech. She learned screen printing at Self Help Graphics, where she was also the youth curator for Native environmental group Honor the Earth’s The Art of Indigenous Resistance. Govea leads multigenerational workshops that emphasize social movements and applying mediums such as lettering, muralism, and screen printing. Reyna Hernandez (Yankton Sioux) is a painter and muralist from southeast South Dakota who feels a deep connection to her homelands and Indigenous roots. She utilizes mixed media to investigate cultural/identity hybridity in relation to her Indigenous bloodlines and Western influences. Her art examines the complexities of her relationship to culture and place and is heavily inspired by the many star quilters in her family history. Through her work, Hernandez explores Lakota, Nakota, and Dakota traditions and symbolism and the many ways that Western civilization has impacted Indigenous expression. In English with Spanish subtitles. Closed captioning is available by clicking the CC button at the bottom of your screen. For Spanish captioning, go to settings to select the language. Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future is an online series hosted by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian. These moderated panel discussions serve as a national platform to amplify the efforts of Native changemakers from across the Western Hemisphere who are engaged in civic and social justice work for Indigenous peoples.

Contemporary artist, writer, and educator Robert Houle (Saulteaux Anishinaabe), landscape artist Kay WalkingStick (Cherokee Nation), and the Art Gallery of Ontario’s Curator of Indigenous Art Wanda Nanibush (Anishinaabe) discuss Houle’s 50-year career and the first major retrospective of his work at the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington DC. Moderated by David Penney, the museum’s associate director for museum research, scholarship, and public engagement. This program was recorded in the museum's Rasmuson Theater on Saturday, June 3, 2023. *CORRECTION: Wanda Nanibush's name was misspelled on the slides shown during this event, and we have corrected the spelling where possible. Exhibition organized by the Art Gallery of Ontario. Generous support is provided by the Canada Council for the Arts and Ameriprise Financial. Image: Robert Houle, "Red is Beautiful," 1970. Acrylic on canvas, 45.5 x 61 cm. Canadian Museum of History, V-F-174, IMG2017-0112-0003-Dm. © Robert Houle

Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the Apache Crown Dancers (White Mountain Apache) from Whiteriver, Arizona, celebrate the summer solstice through song and dance. Led by Joe Tohonnie Jr. (White Mountain Apache), the Apache Crown Dancers tell a story that offers blessing, healing, and protection. Four dancers representing the cardinal directions—east, west, north, and south—are led by a messenger who begins the dance by spinning a type of whistle called a bullroarer. The dancers cover their faces with masks, paint their bodies, and wear large wooden crowns decorated with symbolic colors, patterns, and glyphs to embody the ga’an, powerful mountain spirits who are friends to the Apache people. An Apache tradition practiced since time immemorial, the Apache Crown Dance is performed during special occasions. The family dance troupe also includes young Apache women who perform the Rainbow Dance, which honors the blessings of rain. Since their debut at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the Apache Crown Dancers have performed at numerous festivals and events. For the past two decades, the family has shared their culture, traditions, and values of respect, humbleness, and kindness through their performances. This program was recorded in the Potomac Atrium of the National Museum of the American Indian in Washington, DC on Saturday, June 24, 2023.

Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the Apache Crown Dancers (White Mountain Apache) from Whiteriver, Arizona, celebrate the summer solstice through song and dance. Led by Joe Tohonnie Jr. (White Mountain Apache), the Apache Crown Dancers tell a story that offers blessing, healing, and protection. Four dancers representing the cardinal directions—east, west, north, and south—are led by a messenger who begins the dance by spinning a type of whistle called a bullroarer. The dancers cover their faces with masks, paint their bodies, and wear large wooden crowns decorated with symbolic colors, patterns, and glyphs to embody the ga’an, powerful mountain spirits who are friends to the Apache people. An Apache tradition practiced since time immemorial, the Apache Crown Dance is performed during special occasions. The family dance troupe also includes young Apache women who perform the Rainbow Dance, which honors the blessings of rain. Since their debut at the 2002 Winter Olympic Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, Joe Tohonnie Jr. and the Apache Crown Dancers have performed at numerous festivals and events. For the past two decades, the family has shared their culture, traditions, and values of respect, humbleness, and kindness through their performances.

Fashion is often used to confirm identities, challenge social structures, and display personalities. Discover the joy of fashion in our conversation celebrating PRIDE month. Joining us will be Angel Aubichon (Cree/Métis), Alex Manitopyes (Cree/Anishinaabe), Adrian Stevens (Northern Ute/Shoshone-Bannock/San Carlos Apache), and Sean Snyder (Navajo/Southern Ute). Moderated by Christian Allaire (Ojibwe). PANELISTS Angel Aubichon (Cree/Métis) and Alex Manitopyes (Cree/Anishinaabe) are the Indigiqueer co-founders of the fashion brand Indi City. Together they design fashion accessories inspired by their ancestral roots. In 2017, they became the first global Indigenous designers to incorporate wearable technology into traditional regalia. Their first piece, a woman’s traditional outfit called The Matriarch Speaks, was exhibited in Calgary, Ottawa, and Shenzhen, China. Indi City has grown from a small business on Instagram to a newly launched online store with products sold in shops and boutiques across the country. Their in-house multimedia production company works to curate a 100% Indigenous-made brand through visual marketing and storytelling. Sean Snyder is an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation as well as a descendant of the Southern Ute tribe. Adrian Stevens comes from the Northern Ute, Shoshone-Bannock, and San Carlos Apache tribes. Together they are professional two-spirit artists and cultural consultants who currently make their home outside Las Vegas, Nevada. MODERATOR Christian Allaire (Ojibwe) is currently the fashion and style writer at Vogue in New York City. He grew up on the Nipissing First Nation reserve in Ontario, Canada. After earning his BA in journalism from Ryerson University in 2014, he moved to New York to begin his career as a fashion editor at Footwear News, a role he held for three years. He has also freelanced for Vogue, Elle, Mr. Porter, Hazlitt, Refinery 29, and more. Christian Allaire photo: Courtesy of Christina Ciddio; Sean & Adrian photo: Courtesy of Adrian Stevens Youth in Action: Conversations about Our Future is an online series hosted by the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of the American Indian. These moderated panel discussions serve as a national platform to amplify the efforts of Native changemakers from across the Western Hemisphere who are engaged in civic and social justice work for Indigenous peoples. ************ La moda a menudo se utiliza para confirmar identidades, cuestionar estructuras sociales y mostrar personalidades. Descubre la alegría de la moda en nuestras conversaciones de celebración del mes del ORGULLO. Nos estarán acompañando Angel Aubichon (cree/métis), Alex Manitopyes (cree/anishinaabe), Adrian Stevens (ute del norte/shoshone-bannock/san carlos apache) y Sean Snyder (navajo/ute del sur). Moderado por Christian Allaire (ojibwe). PANELISTAS Angel Aubichon (cree/métis) y Alex Manitopyes (cree/anishinaabe) son les cofundadores indigequeer de la marca de moda Indi City. Juntes diseñan accesorios de moda inspirados en sus raíces ancestrales. En 2017, se convirtieron en les primeres diseñadores indígenas a nivel mundial en incorporar tecnología para vestir en trajes tradicionales. La primera pieza que realizaron juntes, un vestido tradicional de mujer al que denominaron La matriarca habla se expuso en Calgary, Ottawa y en Shenzhen, China. Indi City creció, pasando de ser un negocio pequeño en Instagram a una tienda en línea recién lanzada, que ofrece productos que se venden en tiendas y boutiques en todo el país. Su empresa de producción multimedia interna trabaja en la selección y organización de una marca 100% indígena a través del marketing visual y la narrativa. Sean Snyder es miembro inscrite de la Nación Navajo y descendiente de la tribu ute del sur. Adrian Stevens pertenece a las tribus ute del norte, shoshone-bannock y san carlos apache. Juntes son asesores culturales y artistas dos espíritus profesionales que actualmente residen fuera de Las Vegas, Nevada. MODERADOR Christian Allaire (ojibwe) es actualmente el escritor de estilo y moda de Vogue en la ciudad de Nueva York. Creció en la reserva de la Nación Originaria Nipissing en Ontario, Canadá. Tras obtener su licenciatura en periodismo en la Universidad de Ryerson en 2014, se mudó a Nueva York para comenzar su carrera como editor de moda en Footwear News, puesto que ocupó durante tres años. También ha trabajado como periodista independiente para Vogue, Elle, Mr. Porter, Hazlitt, Refinery 29 y otras publicaciones. Fotografía de Christian Allaire: Cortesía de Christina Ciddio; Fotografía de Sean y Adrian: Cortesía de Adrian Stevens

Celebrate the talented Indigenous women from FX's hit television series Reservation Dogs who are changing the narrative of contemporary Indigenous women on screen. Join the museum in a conversation with one of the female writers/directors and the actresses who play the comedic and sassy aunties. The discussion will provide insight into the representation of Indigenous women in the media, the importance of their stories being told in their own voices, their role in breaking stereotypes, and the power of humor in storytelling. Panelists: Sarah Podemski (Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi), Tamara Podemski (Anishinaabe/Ashkenazi), Jana Schmieding (Cheyenne River Lakota Sioux), Nathalie Standingcloud (Cherokee/Creek, Salish/Wenatchi), and Tazbah Chavez (Diné /Nüümü/San Carlos Apache). Special support provided by The Walt Disney Company.