Native Artist by INDIGEFI

Erin Ggaadamits Ivalu Gingrich (Koyukon Dené Athabascan, Iñupiaq) is a carver and multi-disciplinary artist based in Dgheyey ‘kaq, known today as Anchorage, Alaska. Erin merges her carving practice with beadwork to create stunning visual art pieces rooted in her relationship with the Arctic and interior Alaska. In this episode, Erin describes how relationship with the lands and wildlife are core t...

Northern Cheyenne sisters Jordan and Madison Craig are the founders of the lingerie line Shy Natives. What started with Madi’s intimate garments hand-sewn to fit her and her sisters, became a full-on fashion label after she and Jordan teamed up to capture the essence of the brand. The Shy Native label bloomed with a captivating creative vision nurtured through sisterhood. By combining Jordan’s vis...

Chloey Tláakw Sháa Cavanaugh, Lingít, is a graphic design artist with heritage in Ḵéex̱ʼ, Kake, Alaska. Inspired by the practices of her grandfather, Chloey’s modern formline designs spark dialog using playfulness and joy. Her deep commitment to the communities to which she belongs leads her to advocate for Indigenous and LGBTQ+ young people, and to create space for collective accountability. Chlo...

Leon Misak Kinneeveauk, Inupiaq from Pt. Hope in Arctic, Alaska, is an artist operating the largest ivory carving studio in Deghay’kaq, known today as Anchorage, at the Alaska Art Alliance. Carving walrus ivory is an original artform of Indigenous communities in the Arctic, stretching across Inuit lands in Alaska, Canada, and Greenland. In this episode, Leon shares the journey of discovering his r...

Laine Neech.yanagút Yéil Rinehart is Lingít and Taos Pueblo, based in Lingít lands, in what’s today known as Juneau, Alaska. Laine practices the traditional Lingít artform of Chilkat weaving, an intricate craft that retains its traditional designs, meanings, and uses. In this episode, Laine shares how their art practice is a natural way to express personal and cultural identity, and makes space to...

Dorthy is a professional performer and business owner of a dance company based on Dena’ina lands in Deghay’kaq, known today as Anchorage, Alaska. Dorthy’s talent reflects a lifetime of discipline and love for dance. She performs as Violet Lee Vamp. Along with her business partner, performer Lady Duchess, the two co-founded the Sweet Cheeks Cabaret dance company in 2013. Their work straddles the di...

On the next episode of the Native Artist Series, Dorthy Wychesit Fredenberg is a professional performer and business owner of a dance company based on Dena’ina lands in Deghay’kaq, known today as Anchorage, Alaska. She performs as Violet Lee Vamp. Along with her business partner, performer Lady Duchess, the two co-founded the Sweet Cheeks Cabaret dance company in 2013.

The Native Artist Series takes a deep dive into the stories of Indigenous artists, spanning a wide range of artistic disciplines. From performance artists and writers, to carvers and weavers, artists share their unique stories and perspectives on navigating these fields while reclaiming native identity.

Performer, composer, activist, musicologist — these roles are all infused into his art and way of life. His music, too, transcends boundaries: unapologetically playful in its incorporation of classical influences, full of reverence for the traditional songs of his home,and teeming with the urgency of modern-day struggles of resistance. A member of Tobique First Nation in New Brunswick, Jeremy firs...

A soloist and vibrant collaborator, Laura Ortman (White Mountain Apache) works across recorded albums, live performances, and filmic and artistic soundtracks, and has collaborated with artists such as Tony Conrad, Jock Soto, Raven Chacon, Nanobah Becker, Okkyung Lee, Martin Bisi, Caroline Monnet, Michelle Latimer, Martha Colburn, Tanya Lukin LInklater and Loren Connors. An inquisitive and exquisit...

Christopher Auchter grew up roaming the beaches and forests of the Haida Gwaii archipelago off Canada’s West Coast, and his art is rooted in the land and stories of the Haida people. Auchter’s art practice is fuelled by his close connection to the natural environment, his adventures in forestry and commercial fishing, and by the colourful people with whom he has lived and worked. From early on, he...

Photographer Kiliii Yuyan illuminates the hidden stories of polar regions, wilderness and Indigenous communities. Informed by ancestry that is both Nanai/Hèzhé (Siberian Native) and Chinese-American, he explores the the human relationship to the natural world from different cultural perspectives. Kiliii is an award-winning contributor to National Geographic Magazine and other major publications. B...

Ginew is the only Native American-owned denim line. Using meticulously sourced materials, they incorporate elements of their Ojibwe, Oneida, & Mohican heritage to express a contemporary Native American voice through their premium apparel and accessories. Ginew is Native-Americana, fusing Native American and enduring styles. The brand is owned and operated by husband and wife, Erik and Amanda. They...

Drew Michael (Yup’ik and Inupiaq) was born in Bethel, Alaska. He and his twin brother grew up in Eagle River, Alaska. Drew started learning carving at age 13, learning from archeologist Bob Shaw, printmaker Joe Senungetuk, and contemporary Athabascan mask-maker, Kathleen Carlo. As Drew practiced his craft and developed his own style, he also studied the craftsmanship of works by master carvers and...

Tristan Agnauraq Morgan is a contemporary Iñupiaq artist based out of Anchorage, Alaska who works primarily in watercolor and oil paints. As a mixed Iñupiaq Alaska Native woman, Agnauraq pulls from their unique outlook on life to create culturally contemporary pieces that rely heavily on Iñupiaq values. She strives to discuss important dialogue around Indigenous issues as well as to celebrate recl...

Tomás Karmelo Amaya is A:shiwi, Rarámuri, and Yoeme. He is a photographer, filmmaker, and writer born and raised in Phoenix, AZ and is currently the creative director for Indian Country Today. As a Native person, the traditional teachings and values of his people have heavily influenced how he internalizes and interacts with the world. His work has been known to empower communities by way of high-...

Welcome to the Native Artist podcast from INDIGEFI. Listen in as we sit with established and emerging native artists and hear about the mindset behind the art, how they’re navigating the field, and general advice, at the same time providing an exciting new space for Indigenous creatives. Learn more at: NATIVEARTISTPODCAST.COM Hosted by: Alexis Sallee (Iñupiaq) Instagram: @akalexxx Tara Gatewood (I...