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Sovereign Nations Series: Flags Symbolize National Identity for Tribal Nations and TCUs

Sovereign Nations Series: Flags Symbolize National Identity for Tribal Nations and TCUs

June 14 is Flag Day, when the United States commemorates the adoption of the U.S. flag, reflective of the status of the U.S. as a sovereign nation. The Stars and Stripes, recognizable throughout the world, prompted me to think about the symbolism of flags and their representation of national identity, such as that the U.S. flag represents. Tribal flags are also representative of sovereign nations. The celebration of Flag Day a suitable time to share insights into our history and our contemporary lives as Tribal people.

SIPI Drawing Workshop Taps into Native Philosophies of Awareness in Art, Native Identity, Sacredness, and Value

SIPI Drawing Workshop Taps into Native Philosophies of Awareness in Art, Native Identity, Sacredness, and Value

The warm smell of burning firewood wafted around us as we stepped out of the car. The cool still morning and chirping birds greeted us as we entered the building of the Ancestral Rich Treasures of Zuni (ARTZ) which houses silver and turquoise jewelry and is adorned with colorful paintings all created by Zuni artists.

The Night Watchman

The Night Watchman

Centered around the threat of the U.S. Government’s Termination of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa tribe in North Dakota, Louise Erdrich’s novel The Night Watchman takes us on an Indigenous journey inspired by her grandfather, Patrick Gourneau, a former tribal chairman of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa and a night watchman.

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

In Honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

On January 17 the nation honors Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his life’s work and contributions to civil rights in America. This year the commemoration is particularly poignant for Indian Country as we also mark the loss of Clyde Bellecourt, the last remaining founder of the Native American activist and civil rights group, the American Indian Movement (AIM).