1. NATIVE IDENTITY in ART
an artist’s perspective
Presented by Tohbi Nashoba
2. ART is defined:
The expression or application of
human creative skill and
imagination, typically in a visual
form such as painting or sculpture,
producing works to be appreciated
for their beauty, purpose,
collaborative essence, cultural
development, soul or emotional
power.
Creative activity resulting in the
production of product, utilitarian
and non utilitarian in any medium.
3. Native Art
A Native Life is
Art
Utilitarian Objects.
Dress
Song and Music
Storytelling
Ceremony
Language
5. Why care about Native
Identity
in Art?
Art mediums are the conduit through which the non native world
views our fully realized rich living cultures. Our art informs who we
are, what we do; it humanizes us. When people see and feel our
humanity they can no longer carry ignorance and discrimination
and the idea of the other. When we are not exoctic romantisized
concepts, but real people, society must change. Until these
archaic ideas are put to rest we will always be marginilized,
ignored, and abused. This concerns all of us and we can no
longer participate in our destruction. We must effect how we see
ourselves for the positive and not let the other define us, but take
the power to tell them.
6. How do you want to present yourself?
How do you want others to see you and treat you?
How much rests with us and what is upon the other?
7. Most Important
Art is one of the largest industries in Indian country.
Art is the way to keep and flourish within our cultural
context.
Art is economic development – power – self
determination – soverignty, truer freedom.
9. Living in Two Worlds
Old versus Young
Must remember to pass forward, yet must live in
contemporary world.
Old
If refuse to adapt ( which is traditional) culture,
then people will die out.
Young
If do not learn heritage, loose one’s self.
10. Do We Respect each other?
When someone does attempt an identity accomadating both
worlds; ostrisized.
Skin Color
Poverty | Trauma
Rez | Urban | Other
Traditional | Non Traditional
Which tribe, pueblo, or nation? Ranking of legit Natives
Who’s your family and name?
11. Push | Pull
Loose artists, thus, loose culture bearers.
Does not encourage creativity only limitation.
12. At the end of the day, we have the
government, non-natives, tribes, those
in our communities, our family and
friends, and ourselves trying to define
each one of us through biased eyes
and prejudice hearts, and ignorant
minds.
18. How do we define ourselves as
communities and as individuals
when everything our ancestors
created, for reason, was stolen?
Most of us are mixed race. How do we
pick and choose and why?
Is a Native with an iphone still native?
Are they more Native if they have the
Chickashanompa app?
24. Issue
2 B or not 2 B
Ancestors created a reflection of life to
understand and endure this world.
The Circle | continuity
Present Day
Native? = Native Artists or artists who are Native
27. Issue
A recent New York Times article tells the
story of how Native American art
collectors have historically identified the
source of our artworks by tribe and not
individual artists. Only now are museums and collectors beginning
to respect and value these works by identifying the individual artists and
recognizing their worth as people. Can you imagine if a Monet was just identified as
"French"? It's clear that many corners of society view
Native Americans as an abstract concept, imbued
with normative valuing as a lesser group.
Quote by David Kimelberg (Seneca Nation) from his Huffington Post article
28. Non Native want to tell Native people
who, what, when and where?
Inheritence of the noble savage.
29. Consumers want to buy from someone who has dark skin and
black hair. Someone who “looks Native”. If you don’t speak
english better sales.
The markets, in catering to their buyers, sell the same thing over
and over. Repetative and non thinking.
EX: Indian market, 100’s of vendors selling jewelry that at some
point is indistinguishable one person from the other.
Certain tribes get more attention than others. Most people think
there are only three tribes and this leaves the rest of us behind.
Old non relevant fueds between nations and our own taught
insecurity have people looking upon others as less or even as an
enemy.
30. Archeological items and ideas confuse who we are and what we
are doing.
My generation and younger, of those I know who are trying
something “different”, are refused at every door and then when
they approach non native markets they are seen as native artists
and not what the other galleries want. Most feel trapped, give up
and sell out.
Consumers want “Authenticity”. What is authentic and who is
deciding this them or us? If we decide authenticity, ex. Indian
Market rules, what hat are we saying and doing to ourselves. Why
does so and so, with no integrity, decide my value.
Sad, but true the current system perpetuates lying, Natives
acculturating other Native cultures, the sacred devalued and
stepped upon, inherent back stabbing.
31. Results
Blocks potential for the youth and community.
We are no more than children to the other.
Contributes to historical and personal trauma.
The market and those at the top want things to stay the same
while the world moves forward and we become stagnant and
irrelevant-I would argue this has already happened.
Interest in our art is stagnat and limited. Therefore our ability for
sovereignty is unattainable. When we our dependent we are
controlled.
Reinforces negative self image.
33. Alan Syliboy
Mi’kmaq quillbox | Contemporary Work
Living in the Millbrook First Nations
community.
Lakota Beading 18??
Which piece is “Traditional” and why?
35. Issue
Limited marketing
Promotion of stereotypes of artists and what artists
should make. We further our own comical image
Established negative Hierachy
Old vs. Young
“Traditional” vs. “Non-Traditional”
People willing to sell their culture out
Small Market with no iniciative to grow
Self-Restriction
Nepotism
Absent cooperation
The internet has changed the game some, but the old
establishment still rules.
36. Issue
Artists exhibit crabs in a bucket syndrome as do
nations.
Even the art protesting racism has become a
stereotype and joke.
Our cultures and we as individuals are commodities
to be bought and sold.
The national and world art market pidgeon holds our
work in a nice little niche box and we comply. After
the trauma of survival and continuing genocide
we have bought into the mlarky that we are an
insignificant part of the whole and can only
make a living by being branded Native.
38. Change?
every culture solve issues in their way
Santa Fe and New Mexico in general (Mecca)
Opening new markets
Education
Technology | New ways to Market, etc.
Use the “exoctic” to our advantage
The Youth: Art develops young minds in spatital understanding,
reasoning, etc. Even if a youth does not become an artist they will
benefit from exposure. Plus, tribes are always fighting the battle of
losing culture because kids leave the rez looking for opportunity.
Art can be practiced anywhere including one’s community.
39. Stop the “We got worse problems… syndrome: Our art is a direct
reflection of how we feel about ourselves. Art is culture and
without culture we are not Native peoples. Art tells outsiders how
to treat us. We are still experiencing genocide, obviously, we are
missing something in our art for the outsiders.
Tribes and Tribal Governments to support the arts and back their
people: Recognize and honor the contribution artists give. They
are the keepers and developers of knowledge.
Grants, workshops, emergency aid, residencies, artist reciprocity
Tribes work together | Intermix different regions in the markets.
Ask yourself what you are buying and why | We are our own
consumers also. What message our we sending with our
demand?
40. Leverage | Nations are becoming more powerful and closer to
sovereignty. The Chickasaws are able to support their art and
artists because we have money. If we continue to promote the
diversity within our communities non natives will have to take
notice and begin to understand us in a different way.
Stop the fear | Every human experiences fear; fear of leaving
what one knows, fear of trying something and not knowing the
outcome, fear of failure.
There is room for all, but no room for judgement and self hatred |
Historical trauma
Healthcare, mental | Many studies make a direct link from art
making and its curative power for PTSD and all other mental
health disabilities and issues.
41. We must educate our people, have incentive for
them to not only come back to their communities,
but thrive. Get business people who can own the
galleries and various companies. Economic
development therefore power therefore control
over one’s life therefore thriving culture.
42. Each tribe must find their
own path for reconciliation of
adaptation being a part of all
our different cultures.
Chokma
Chinchookma
Chickasha saya anoa silhochifoat Natasha anoa tohbi nashoba
Hi how are you? I’m Chickasaw and my name is Natasha.
I want to thank the Chickasaw Nation for this event and especially all those in the arts and humanities department. Thank you for the honor of letting me speak today.
Quick note about me
Finished BA in art history at Washington University in St. Louis in 2002.
Wasn’t gonna b artist
groom at Churchill Downs
Elderly Nutrition Program at Rosebud Rez
Bourbon st. and art galleries on royal in New Orleans
I began drawing then painting in 2006.
In 2007 I began attending Institute of American Indian Arts and finished in 2010.
_Some of what I’ve done
MoCNA permanent collection
Opening artist for the McSwain theater Gallery
2 years Indian Market
Hopi Clan exhibit for the Anasazi Heritage Center (kept extra 3 years)
Why am I discussing this?
Because I have struggled for many years with the question of identity. It is the center piece of my art work.
_i’ve gone through an extensive, hard journey to determine and b ok with my identity
-identity is a universal struggle
-the concept, perception, the hate and hurt caused by this and exponentially infecting
Unfortunately and fortunately I will ask more questions today than answer. I do have many answers for myself, but we are all unique individuals. My answers are not yours. I do not have your eyes and you do not have mine-so please do not take offense at my ignorance or yours.
I hope in my asking questions dialogue is furthered, minds are opened to more possibilities and we all take at least one step closer to our own truth. This is my purpose.
Now, with any issue in the Native world things are complicated, convuluted, and ridiculous, but reality.
So strap in and get ready for a lot of material.
For the purpose of this discussion
Everything in our lives has meaning in heritage, culture, how we understand the world, how we adapt to the world, how we are in the world.
Our art was not originally meant to be framed in museums, but lived. I’ll address two worlds later (this phtoto points to that)
Western value
Not fine art
*Conditional
>Slightly valued as an art
Identity
Is usually defined by how we see our selves in agreeable and/ or non agreeable tension with how the other (group and individual) sees us, as a group and as an individual
one on one experience is completely diff. & typically healtheir than group mentality
Culture usually outsiders don’t care/other natives respect you alittle more if you know things/as an individual probably most important factor
Blood depending on which tribe aand individual only thing they care about-obviously by “other” standards the more blood the more you are, really?
if so, every adoptive parents might as well give up their babies
also, every tribe participated in trade and warring. Someone can b 100% Native racially, but Absolutely no such thing as a pure navajo, etc.
Belief system similar to culture
what do you practice/not practice and for what reason - so many factors
as culture it can be used to upgrade or downgrade one’s nativeness
Government Tribal governments, state and US govern’ment-they all want to decide who we are. For some groups the tribal government decided you must be
a ¼ on your mom’s side & others use rolls proving decendicy- kind of
neither is right or wrong/the best any of us can do
US forced these decisions
Affiliation Who do you claim to be?
white skin like me claiming Chickasaw is usually somewhat OK. However, we all know if I claimed Cherokee-I’d b a princess
& if I claimed picuris I’m a straight up liar
Recognition
Skin Color My favorite, superficial-catch one of Dr. Gates shows, count how many times DNA proves someone’s skin is the opposite
Story of Lisa
When I came to IAIA versus being white on Rosebud
Heritage reveals more of the truth of your family, who and what made you, you
Ancestry Blood, but also what is your name? Who are you related to?
Nepotism is the greatest downfall and self destructive force practiced by native peoples
Land Where are you from? Are you rez? Are you urban? Were you raised around your people & on traditional lands?
or raised away from your people? This effects more of the individual identity.
Tell of adopted out boy on rosebud.
By the way, you are most indian if you’re from the rez. Shoot being on Rosebud has given me street cred I would not have otherwise
Nurture The familial culture, everyday workings and lessons
Tell about not realizing being raised native until I got to IAIA
Once again a strong individual measurement and somewhat recognized by other native, but not “other”
Native Identity in the US is a completely diff. experience and definition than any other indigenous population in the world.
-partly because of how the US was colonized -----concerning resources, type of slavery, trade, european multi country in fighting
- and partly the irony, yet immense human potential of the constitution and bill of rights
-we have the race card****how the other forced us to define ourselves in screwed up ways and how they see us in negatives ways
-we define ourselves by not defining ourselves with the other
in so doing we limit ourselves and do not accept ourselves****Tell aunt Lola story
Cultural identity
Every tribe, nation, pueblo has their own definition.
How much do you participate?
What part of the culture do you recognize?
Familial culture?
What is not traditional and what is traditional and who defines this?
Blood Quantum and Tribal Affiliation
How much blood can you prove you have?
Who are your ancestors and did they enroll?
How much blood makes you Native, is this not requirements placed upon us by a government who does not have the right to define us?
A) Because this is still a valid portrayal in larger society
B) And This is the heavy answer
Here is the practical anwer
How do yo want others to see you?_____Lets not pretent human are imperfect and no matter how buddhist or politically correct we are instinctual pysical knew jerk reactions and perceptions is the real world.
Granted some repsonsibility rests with the ignorant, including yourself
Obviously both are needed and one is incomplete without the other.
Ex. Nathan’s cell phone story
Native peoples create objects imbuing them with spirit, respect, honoring
America’s art is record, philosophical ponderance--- number one diff. between us and western values and other cultures
many times american art is ruled by reason versus deep emotion
What results in the difference
*lots of ignorance, misunderstanding, and prejudice
+++Pueblos have some dances open to public.
Some are not. Non-Natives ask why?
Ex: Story of Kachinas
Reasons to sell out
Reasons to not sell out
-They can be one in the same
-natives participate in their own stereotyping like any other group
the nigger example
PTSD changes one’s biology and is passed down biologically
And through nurture unless helped
Why put under ethic, etc.
because ptsd changes how one reacts and views the world
it influences our art and identity
We no longer hunt the animals of MS and Tennessee.
We no longer use clay pots, reed baskets, dugoutsfor our daily needs.
We no longer cook and eat the way our our original peoples.
We no longer speak our langiage as our only tongue. ETC.
How are we Chickasaw in this contemporary world.
Art helps with these answers, but even artists, culture bearers are not asking enough of ourselves.
I look to the Jewish community
However, they have never been a land based culture
SWAIA, HEARD, Autry,- all big shows have elaborate rules for “traditional works”, what is contemporary and what is not
I personally have seen and know of many famed winning artists not following the rules. Are they no longer genuine? Is their product not an effort made by a real indian with a card?
China does billions of dollars-no follow up
Only real native are following the laws
National Board
How is it non natives run our art world. We must educate our people, have incentive for them to not only come back to their communities, but thrive. Get business people who can own the galleries and various companies. Economic development therefore power therefore control over one’s life therefore thriving culture.
Definition of Authentic.-----of undisputed origin; genuine.
Because at the end of the day our ancestors, our family and people were stripped of their land their culture, their belief systems, social and political systems. They were forced through genocidal campaigns to fly like birds when they only knew to be fish.
And this sums up the whole problem of native identity and its complexity
AUTHENTICITY
Non Native Expectations: feathers, buffalo, etc.
they read and want what they read
tell story of how non natives tell native about themselves
stereotypes
If you give them something else. Something more than a one note, but a piece or the mosaic of Native experience and cultures they refuse it. Tell about my indian market experience.
Some know they are ignorant and are respectful of this.
Native Expectations:
Some expect what non natives do. Sometimes they are natives less informed about their culture and other cultures.
Sometimes they believe sticking a feather on any thing makes them native.
Some are much more intuned, knowledgeable, and genuine.
Don’t want to know are names
Our art is - Just a trophy
The new generation just do it automatically without thinking, inheritence from their ancestors
Traditional is a relative term
Connects to authenticity.
Are we trying to preserve, nuture, and or persevere?
Mi'kmaq artisans
-using the quills of the common porcupine, birchbark and spruce root
-arrival of Europeans this traditional art form went international. Many of these quillboxes, dating from the 17th century through the early years of the 20th century
-Although new, these boxes are made in the traditional fashion, as opposed to the common "Ojibway" style which is so popular.
- Depending on the taste of the buyer, quills can be dyed using either traditional, natural dyes or modern aniline.
Lakota
-its old (does that mean traditional?)
-they used sinew as opposed to fake sinew now used and considered legitimate in shows
-the beads are glass seed beads originating from European trade
Is what our ancestors practiced traditional? If so, which ancestors?
-Europeans introduced horse culture & when they adopted this life-the culture became tradition
Limited thinking.
Fog of anger
Crabs in bucket syndrome.
Limited thinking.
Fog of anger
Crabs in bucket syndrome.
Felt boxed in- had to do stereotypical
small and or unfairly priced items to be able to sell
The community-lots of grest people, but the backstabbing (yes, every workplace, industry has this, but the crab bucket syndrome is severely worse in the native art world
My skin
tired of consumers and fellow artists
Yes OK too, but definitely not on the same level
lots of interesting art from tribes who can not get shown due to prejuidices within the community
Education
Business education-so we can run our own galleries, etc.
also for artists, lots of mistakes, limiting their own potential because of ignorance
even those who’ve made it most of the time is luck, not acumen
educate about culture, rights and wrongs | early age, passed down
Tech.
teach people website and graphic design
