Sinte Gleska

I painted this parfleche handbag in 2015 as a way of highlighting the importance of education in Native communities through the leadership and inspiration of Sicangu Lakota Chief Sinte Gleska because his legacy is an important cultural touchstone in my life as a young Dakota/Nakoda artist and scholar. Chief Sinte Gleska was a brave leader and early advocate for education as a tool for resilience in the 19th century and his belief in the importance of education inspired me to pursue higher education. Reflecting on this piece now is heartwarming; it was my first experience creating a visual narrative that honors tradition
while asserting my position as a contemporary artist.