Dakota Vision Brings the World Alive
American Indian Magnet School Mural
Dakota Vision Brings the World Alive
Mural donated by Marlena Myles to the American Indian Magnet School in Saint Paul, MN
This mural reflects a way of seeing the world shaped by Dakota teachings, where Grandmother Earth is understood not as a resource, but as a relative. In this way of seeing, all life holds presence and meaning. Plants, animals, water, and sky are not background elements, but living beings with whom we exist in relationship.
When we reconnect with this worldview, the world grows larger. Details become important again. A bird’s movement, the pattern of a flower, the quiet presence of water all carry significance. This way of seeing mirrors how children experience the world: everything feels vast, alive, and worthy of attention. Nothing is small or insignificant.
Seeing with Dakota eyes is not about looking backward, but about restoring balance and awareness. It invites us to slow down, listen, and recognize ourselves as part of a living system of relations. Through this mural, I invite viewers to step into that perspective and experience the world as something alive, expansive, and deeply connected.
