#AmericanIndian

[epicforwards]

"Certain things catch your eye, but pursue only those that capture the heart."

-- Native American Proverb

[chessalbaneze]

Seven of Pentacles

This piece is all the way back from July 2020. This card depicts the Iroquois legend of The Lazy Boys Who Became the Pleiades, a constellation that bears great importance in many cultures around the world. In particular I am using the version passed down by Jesse Cornplanter of the Senecan people, the variation differing only in that the last boy who glances back down to Earth falls, becoming the first pine.

The Seven of Pentacles is a card about harvesting the long term projects and goals you've set into motion. I chose the Iroquois legend because it's a story I grew up with, and which stuck to me because of its haunting imagery. The boys spend all their time dancing instead of assisting the elders in the hunt, so when they come in for food, they are denied, as a means of teaching them a lesson. Rather than move them to change their ways, this merely motivates them to dance more. Eventually they become so light-headed with hunger that their feet begin to lift from the ground, their bodies becoming so light. To the rest of the tribe's horror, the seven boys drift off into the skies. One boy, upon hearing a woman of the village call after him, turns back and falls to the Earth, becoming the first pine.

What is the lesson to be learned, here? I like to think it's a lesson that everyone in the community has a different purpose, and that not everyone is made to hunt. Some are artists and engage in dance, yet they are just as valuable as those who physically place food upon the table, and should be allowed to eat. Otherwise you lose a very essential part of your society. Then again, being an artist, I am incredibly biased towards this way of thinking.

I chose sketches of Smoke Dancing, as it is a competitive dance meant to impress with flair. It is a modern dance, really only made popular in the 1990s, though its origin is hard to place. Likewise the events of this legend take place "a long time ago," and cannot be exactly placed either. Mixing in this modern dance is a way of making the tale timeless, as again I chose the dance for its joy of the dance itself and its performative competition, as I imagine the boys caught up in their dances that worldly needs such as hunger are easy to ignore.

Insofar as how this legend fits in the card's meaning, the harvest of the village in abandoning the boys is to lose them, and the harvest of the boys' dancing is to do so eternally in the skies.

I suppose in general I wish society placed a greater value on art, and that is why this tale has stuck with me. Art, in many ways, offers immortality and a guiding light.

This is one of my charity pieces in my shop where 100% of the proceeds goes to a specific charity. This one goes to AISES (American Indian Science and Engineering Society) which is a program my friend used to get into NASA. Being that this card is both Native and celestial, AISES seemed like an appropriate choice.

You can purchase a print here.

[ozdigitalimages]

[humblymybrain]

Were Indigenous Peoples of the Americas Descended From the Israelites?

[ancient-healer]

How long we have to tell people this?! How long before they admit the truth?! How long?! They're comfortable in their hypocrisy! They're comfortable in their greed and hate!

[mcdonaldfood2024]

[audaciousseniorliving]

I am Darrell Griffin. I am a registered tribal member of the Ottawa American Indian tribe. Prayer and meditation add a silver lining to each of my days. As we gracefully navigate the golden years of our lives (I am 72), it's essential to embrace practices that not only nourish our bodies but also nurture our spirits. For audacious senior citizens, the journey of self-discovery and inner peace can take on new dimensions, especially through the transformative power of prayer and meditation. Prayer is talking to God and meditation is listening to God. In this blog post, we'll explore the significance of these practices, delve into the importance of mantras, and how integrating indigenous wisdom can deepen our spiritual connection. See the full article at PureAudacity.com in the Mind and Body journal.

[iamunriven]

Balance.

Life is a balance. It requires both darkness and light.It isn’t always going to be positive.It isn’t supposed to be. And the sooner we begin to accept that- the sooner we can look our darkness in the face and embrace it.Tame it.When it gets dark- focus on the light. And if it isn’t there- remember who you can call.Today, I’m thankful for kind friends who show up ❤️Create the light. #positivity

[chessalbaneze]

Three of Cups

Back from August 2020: The Three of Cups is a card of community and union between three close relationships, usually women. I thought about three legendary women and remembered the Three Sisters of Native agriculture: a staple in many Native foods. In order of their cultivation, they are the Winter Squash, Maize, and Climbing Beans.

The Three Sisters are planted together and benefit each other in their coexistence. The maize provides a foundation for the beans to climb, the beans provide nutrients to the soil, and the squash on the ground prevents the growth of weeds as well as creating a microclimate that keeps the soil moist. This sort of cohabiting relationship was perfect for this card, and I included bowls of the crops to work in the cup symbology.

I initially didn't know if I wanted to make the Sisters have human-colored skin or plant-colored skin, as I didn't know if any of these colors would be problematic (obviously red is unacceptable). I checked with three of my Native friends to make sure orange, gold, and green would be okay, and they were happy with it. I'm glad the plant colors worked too, because it makes the Sisters seem more like spirits instead of Native women who decided to put a bunch of plants on their heads. Another color I struggled with for a time was with Sister Maize, as obviously corn husks are usually a dark green in color. I was concerned that Sister Beans was already taking up a lot of green, and thought a golden corn husk color would help balance the colors, as well as draw in some of the warmth of the squash colors from the eldest Sister. Because of the presence of both green and warm colors in Sister Squash, she serves as a balance between Sister Maize and Sister Beans.

My favorite part of painting was definitely dotting all the exquisite maize colors. They come in so many beautiful varieties of blues, purples, magentas, whites, yellows, and a dark blue almost green raven-like color. If you would like to read a bit about the Native cultivation of maize and the Western colonization of maize, this interview with botanist Robin Wall Kimmerer is an enlightening read about the sacred properties of the Corn Mother.

Three Sisters is just one of the many Native farming techniques that kept North America alive and vibrant, utilizing different plants' abilities to fertilize the soil in preparation for new growth, and keeping the ecosystems balanced. Western farming techniques in comparison do not use the land to its fullest potential, and we've ruined much of the landscape because of this.

If you were to draw up this card, remember those who support you. Think about the strong feminine presences in your life and how you look out for one another. You are vital to this bond, pulling your weight and beautiful in the eyes of those who love you. Each of you is different, but that's what gives you strength.

If you would like to learn how to cook Native dishes, I recommend the cookbooks The Sioux Chef's Indigenous Kitchen by Sean Sherman and Beth Dooley, and The Mitisitam Cafe Cookbook by Richard Hetzler.

Here is a link to my shop. All proceeds of the Three of Cups prints go to Real Rent Duwamish.

[bricehammack]

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[ancient-healer]

So Luke comes out of Perkins Restaurant and gets in the car with a small bag and he says "I got a blueberry muffin just for being an Indian."

I thought I didn't hear him correctly, so I said "What?" And he repeated himself.

"Ok explain" I said.

"The server asked if I was an Indian. And I said yes. And he said he wanted to give me something so he gave me this blueberry muffin."

So now #Reparation Muffins are a thing.

#RatherHaveLandBack

Credit: Linda Black Elk

[happynaturalhair]

The Truth is Unstoppable We R Debunk’n The LIES By Any Means Necessary Provide’n Receipts 🧾 Our Jobs Has Been Accomplished We Wake’n Up The Sleeping 😴 Giant That Part!!!! #the #truth #is #unstoppable #thatpart #freedomfighter #americanindian #hachotakniyamasseecriiktribe #wegotthepower #feathersup #our #ancestors #are #pleased #yakoke #yokoke #hawa https://www.instagram.com/p/Co9QOAFu3Tq/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[worldlibertytv]

National Museum if American Indian NYC 2/15/23 See more in our WorldLiberty TV, Cultural Channels @ www.worldlibertytv.org #nationalmuseumofamericanhistory #americanindian #WorldLibertyTVculturalBlog #Indians #wallsnyc https://www.instagram.com/p/Cos3qOQP1OJazJRzWV_BotntGUwHrj7DWzrEno0/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[beth-louella-art]

🥳 Birthday weekend! ❤ My birthday present to myself this year is some time to spend on a painting which is a little bit different...😄 I look forward to sharing it with you! I've had a wonderful weekend celebrating and I've been treated lots - feeling loads of love & gratitude. ❤💫 I hope you've had a good weekend & have a great start to the week ahead x ❤💛❤🙌❤💛❤ [Image Description: Photo of Beth Louella smiling in a colourful studio space; wearing a warm toned flower crown and gold shell earrings.] . . . . . . . . . . . . #beth_louella_art #artist #behindthescenes #artistsofinstagram #bipocartist #isleofman #ukartist #nativeamerican #americanindian #gratitude #colourful #joy #selflove #womenartists #fridakahlo #love #artstudio #creativity #artistblog #birthday #celebration #happy #positivevibes #positivity #smiling #yellow #gift #flowers #natural #selfie https://www.instagram.com/p/CoSp7WEsosi/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=