Free Resources | The Art of Marlena Myles

Free Coloring Pages of the 3 Sisters/Sage & DIY Seed Packets

Marlena Myles — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 19:07:08 +0000

Free 3 sisters & Sage

coloring Pages

Coloring sheets by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota)

Here is a set of Dakota/Ojibwe coloring pages featuring the three sisters (Squash, Corn, Beans) and sage that were created for Indigenous Peoples Day celebration 2019 in Minneapolis, Minnesota. They are free to download and print.

This project was made possible by the Friends of Hennepin County Library through a grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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Free DIY Seed Packets

Here is a set of seed packets that you can print out fully colored or color them yourself! The large packets are 4″x3″ and the small packets are 2″x”3.

These print-at-home seed packets were part of the 12th Annual Mde Maka Ska Canoe Nations Gathering brought to you by Dream of Wild Health and Hennepin County Library.

Instructions: Print at “Fit to Page.” Cut packets out and fold along dotted lines. Glue the bottom and side flaps under the back flap and allow to dry. Label and fill with seeds.

This project was made possible by the Friends of Hennepin County Library through a grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

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(Free download) Lyric Poster Collaboration with Tufawon

Marlena Myles — Tue, 26 May 2020 21:59:02 +0000

Free Download of Tufawon Lyrics coloring page Poster

Coloring sheet by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota)

This poster I created to celebrate Native American Month in Minnesota. I teamed up with Tufawon (lyrics from his song Sagepatch Kid) and Hennepin County Library to create a poster that captures the rebirth of Spring through Dakota florals (Tufawon and I are both Spirit Lake Dakota).

Tufawon’s music is available on MNSpin, a project that connects MN musicians and listeners for free through the library. This project was made possible by the Friends of Hennepin County Library through a grant by the Institute of Museum and Library Services.

Feel free to print and color this poster!

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Free Coloring Book of Dakhóta plants & Landmaps of Mnísota

Marlena Myles — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 14:30:11 +0000

Learn about Dakota plants (traditional food & medicinal uses) and landmarks of Dakota homelands in Mnísota through the 1861 Minnesota journey of Henry David Thoreau.

All resources are free to download and share!

Who was Henry David Thoreau?

Henry David Thoreau (1817–1862) is known for his masterpiece Walden (1854), a philosophical novel of living a life close to nature, based off the two years he spent in a small cabin at Walden Pond (Massachusetts) as an “experiment in simplicity”. Over the years, Walden has inspired and informed the work of naturalists, environmentalists and writers; some even call him the “father of environmentalism”.

By immersing himself in Nature, Thoreau hoped to gain a more objective understanding of society through personal introspection. He was strongly against slavery, working in the underground railroad to help slaves escape to Canada. One of his most well-known essays “Civil Disobedience” argues that it is sometimes necessary to disobey the law in order to protest unjust government actions; it has inspired later civil rights movements led by Martin Luther King Jr. and Mahatma Gandhi.

You can read further details about his journey to Minnesota here as provided by the Minnesota Historical Society.

Free coloring book of Dakhóta plants

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Coloring book of Dakota plants inspired by the 1861 Minnesota Journey of Henry David Thoreau

This coloring book features the natives plants of Minnesota as noted by Henry David Thoreau during his 1861 journey to Minnesota. In the year before his death, he took a month long trip to the mid-west and explored the area around the Twin Cities and kept a journal of plants and animals. He was much more interested in indigenous plants then he was with meeting politicians of the time.

One of the reasons I wanted to use his journey to Minnesota as the inspiration is because of his respect for nature: Thoreau was a Transcendentalist who connected spirituality through living as a relative to Nature. Dakota people have similar philosophical views such as the Sacred Hoop and Mitákuye Owás’iŋ (we are all related) which means our existence depends on a balanced, harmonic relationship with all things.

Places visited during his 1861 Minnesota Journey

It doesn’t seem commonly known that Thoreau visited many locations in Minnesota, especially in the Twin Cities. He came for health reasons, hoping the fresh air would help his ailments.

During his time here explored the area around the Twin Cities with his friend Horace Mann, Jr. He traveled along the Wakpá Tháŋka (Mississippi River), stopping in Bde Óta Othúŋwe (Minneapolis) and Imnížaska Othúŋwe (St Paul); while there, he visited Owámniyomni (St. Anthony Falls), Wíta Tópa Bde (Lake of the Isles), Bde Makhá Ska (formerly Lake Calhoun), Bde Umáŋ (Lake Harriet), Mní Iȟpáyedaŋ (Minnehaha Falls), and Bdóte (Pike Island). He traveled down the Mnísota Wakpá (Minnesota River) and saw the Dakota people at the Lower Sioux Agency; he rightly predicted in his journal that their mistreatment by the US government would lead to a war (Dakota War of 1862).

Before returning to his home in Massachusetts, he climbed Ȟemníčhaŋ (Barn Bluff) in Red Wing where he read his mail, wrote in his journal of the natural beauty of Tháŋka Bdé (Lake Pepin) and ate Wažúšteča (wild strawberries). His journals offer scientific and poetic studies of the indigenous plants he saw growing throughout his Minnesota journey.

I created two Dakota landmaps where you can find these locations for yourself! You can also explore other placenames as you learn about the past, present and future of Dakota people in the area.

Wakpá Tháŋka Bdé Óta Othúŋwe Imníža Ská Othúŋwe Owámniyomni Wíta Tópa Bdé Bdé Makhá Ská Bdé Umáŋ Mní iȟpáyedaŋ Bdóte Mnísota Wakpá Ȟemníčhaŋ Othúŋwe Wašté Ȟemníčhaŋ Tháŋka Bdé

Dakota Landmaps & audio pronunciation

These are two Dakota land maps which tell the past, present and future of Dakota people and language. There are 8.5″ x 11″ prints available for download. You can visit the Dakota land map page for information on ordering larger sizes if desired. Also, I included the Dakota pronunciation of the place names Thoreau visited in Minnesota. All pronunciations can be found on the land maps page as well.

Minneapolis & St Paul [ Download 8.5″ x 11″ free print ]
Prairie Island • Red Wing • Winona [ Download 8.5″ x 11″ free print ]
Minnesota River Valley [ Download 8.5″ x 11″ free print ]

Design your own Dakota Floral worksheet

Marlena Myles — Wed, 01 Apr 2020 18:02:25 +0000

Yuȟáȟa Wakšúpi:

Design your own Dakota Florals

Template sheet by Marlena Myles (Spirit Lake Dakota)

This worksheet will help you create your own Dakota floral designs. It incorporates elements of coloring books but also gives you the freedom to design something totally unique. Floral designs have been used in Dakota (Santee) designs dating back hundreds of years. They are different than Ojibwe/Anishinaabe and reflect our connection with the plant nation. You can learn about the evolution of Dakota beadwork here.

I created a quick video that demonstrates how to use the template after you print it out. Supplies will be paper for tracing and your choice of art materials and supplies. You’ll move your blank paper around on the template to build your custom design. I’ll include historical Dakota pieces in museums for inspiration but feel free to disregard all of that and create however you desire.

Share your finished creations on Instagram and tag me @MylesDesigns and I’ll share your work with my followers. Pidamaya.

If you are not from a Dakota/Lakota nation, I would recommend educating yourself on cultural appropriation vs appreciation before downloading this worksheet. It is open to all to use but it is illegal in the United States to pass off work as Native American if you are not enrolled. Be aware of your actions and act responsibly.

Download Print PDF file

The Sisseton Wahpeton College has created a flyer that teaches different meanings of the symbols and colors.

From the Portland Museum of Art: Santee Sioux artist, Non-traditional Women’s Shoes, ca. 1900, glass beads and silk on leather.

From the Minneapolis Institute of Art: Cape, c. 1840-1890

This rare cape exemplifies the skillfully executed floral designs characteristic of Dakota beadwork. Using the smallest of glass beads, artists create symmetrical, balanced motifs inspired by the plants they see around them. Note the intricately worked stars sprinkled across the cape and the delicate tendrils along the clasp opening.

From the Portland Art Museum: Santee Sioux artist, Child’s Vest, ca. 1860, porcupine quill, silk, and calico on Native tanned hide.

From the Minneapolis Institute of Art: Cradleboard, c. 1880

Cradle covers were usually made by the relatives of the child, and given to the mother to use when the baby arrives. Cradles play an important function because it nestles the child, and the cradle can be worn on the mother’s back, or put on the side of a horse. Highly decorated ones are especially prized because it is symbolic of the pride and love of the child, and illustrates the skill of the artists. This porcupine quilled cradle cover is an excellent example of Dakota work. It features elaborate floral designs and animals. Elk, buffalo, dragonflies, and butterflies can be found. The artist who created this masterpiece had an exceptional command of quillworking, illustrated by the graceful portrayal of the birds.