From Creativity to Collaboration: Championing Native Voices Through Art
Bridging Cultural Gaps: A Journey to Preserve and Promote Native American Artistry
The unusually hot September sun beat down as I hammered planks into place for a wheelchair ramp on the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota. Sweat stung my eyes. My hands were blistered, my back sore—and yet my purpose was clearer than ever. Amid the sweat and sawdust, I was searching for two Lakota artists whose work I’d only seen in photos—one who carved Spirit Horses, rooted in the horse dance stick tradition, and another who created wall hangings from Lakota symbols.
My shelves were already filled with Dineh (Navajo) carvings, Acoma pottery, kachina dolls, weavings, and dolls from the Crow, Blackfoot, and Shoshone. But in northern Colorado, far from the Southwest, I noticed something unsettling: tourist gift shops overflowed with Dineh jewelry and kachina dolls as well as Pueblo pottery—while the artistry of the Plains people, whose history is tied to this land, was almost invisible.
After days of searching, I finally stumbled upon a Spirit Horse in a Pine Ridge trading post, far off the tourist path. I left my name and number. The call from the artist didn’t come until after I had left the reservation. When it did, we spoke for hours about his Spirit Horses—carvings that carry forward the Lakota tradition of honoring a horse’s spirit through song and ceremony, honoring its bravery and companionship. That conversation became the first step in a partnership.
When the purchase orders came in from three national parks, the artist who created the wall hangings said simply, “This is the big dog.” His words carried both pride and relief. For the first time, their creations weren’t just souvenirs on a shelf—they were recognized as living culture, tied to the very landscapes that shaped them.
Today, I work with multiple artists, expanding their reach through gift shops and new products that carry royalties back to them. For me, influence is not about spotlighting myself—it’s about ensuring that Native voices, traditions, and livelihoods shine brighter with every sale. My vision is simple: when people visit these lands, they leave with more than a souvenir. They carry home a story. A tradition. a piece of living culture.
