Recently, alot of Native visionaries and artists received a weird email. It said something about a grant, a zoom, and URGENT need to respond. For many of us, it went ignored, unanswered, and in our busy lives, some were in our spam inbox. But this email was one not to be ignored. Soon, many of us were receiving emails from friends and calls from leaders "Answer this email." and the rest of the story goes a little like "Surprise! We are sending you a gift because of your hard work." I am paraphrasing here, but as lifelong artists, leaders, and entrepeneurs, the last thing we ever expect is a gift of unrestricted funds from a foundation. But the Waterers fund...
The narrative about Dakota and Ojibwe relations has always been told as singlularly one of conflict. When St Cloud State proposed an art installation in their new American Indian Center, Heart Berry's artist Howes knew right away what she hoped for. "This area is so important as this place between our nations as Dakota and Ojibwe people. I really wanted to work with a Dakota artist on this project. Holly Young and I both loved the idea of sharing the story of the gift of the big drum from the Dakota. The Big drum to me is such an Incredible gift of grace." This pencil to digital collaboration pulls together the old stories with a modern installatin by Turtle Mountain sign...
“The Great Rice Race” Mural by Heart Berry’s Sarah Agaton Howes now at the Duluth Children's Museum Our mural shares the fun and work of wild rice harvesting, canoeing, and the animals that share our ecosystem (our earth) with us. Going ricing is a fun time of community, sharing, full of stories and hard work. “I love to hear the stories the old guys tell of their amazing rice harvests or the time they tipped their canoe, this mural depicts the fun and also the work of this beautiful way of life.” In the Great Rice Race, Rabbit and Turtle playfully race while Bear, tired from a long day naps on the canoe. Fish and Otter watch the excitement while...
New Public Art by all Native Team! Heart Berry is so excited to finally reveal the new installation by Heart Berry's Howes, Holly Young (Dakota), and Nedahness Greene (Ojibwe). The team won the Native Presence Commission and has finally realized this vision to brighten University Avenue in St Paul. More than just a land acknowledgment: Springboard for the Arts is committed to acting on their values and thus prioritized a Native Presence Installation for the predominant place on their building. Installed across 25 windows surrounding the building, our team brings together ledger, beadwork, and photography in this stunning, large scale collaboration. Dakota territory: Our team knew we needed to collaborate with a Dakota artist, and are thrilled ledger...
My grandma used to tell me about the unmarked graves at her boarding school in Red Lake. As she aged, she shared more and more about her boarding school experience. The psychological, physical, and spiritual abuse they suffered carries in us now, today, and we suffer and heal and grow pushing against it every day. With the recent acknowledgement of the unmarked graves, thus far up to 1353, is the very tip of the iceberg of our ancestors never returned to their families. As communities, we sit now with rage, grief, anger, and resolute strength during this time of the rest of the world knowing our grandparents stories were true. The church and government run boarding schools genocide was one...
