Haŋwákhaŋ Thašúŋke

~Northern Lights’ Horse~
Program: Adobe Illustrator CS5

Many times I recall the story of White Buffalo Calf Woman and the differences in outcomes for people if they approach each other with respect. She also promised the people would survive and prosper if they followed the ceremonies and teachings she revealed.

This piece is homage to that thinking, that even in the depths of winter’s cold, the traditional teachings will help us through those hard times. The horse in this piece comes from my memories: visiting my tribe as a child, far away from the city lights, I remember looking up at the stars one night and seeing the faint Northern Lights. My older cousin told me if I whistled and sang, the lights would dance for us and so we did; the lights reacted!

Thus, that memory is also represented in this piece, as the horse carrying on that belief that we have a connection with the nations around us.

I decided to feature the body of water known to Americans as Devils Lake in two of my pieces; the name of my tribe is call Spirit Lake (North Dakota) and this is where we live; these are a homage to the long history of my Dakota people and my memories of my tribe. Both pieces contain the reflection of the horse and person; playing on the thought that what we do in life carries on with us during our journey in the afterlife.

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