THE PURPOSE

In early 2021 Us Si Creative approached me with a proposal to produce a mural exploring my relationship with water as an Indigenous person. The mural was to be located at Springboard for the Arts at their new location in St. Paul, MN. The goal of this project was two-fold. First, to draw attention to Springboard's sustainable efforts of gathering rainwater from their roof to the storage tank which would supply the water for their green space housing Minnesota native plants. Second, to pay respect to the Dakota and Ojibwe tribes of present-day Minnesota, the original custodians of the land. 

FOR YOUR ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

Seymour is the premire paddle company of the northland. Located just a hop skip and a jump away from the Boundary Waters on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN, Seymour was founded in the ultimate paddling city. The founder, John, has been creating and paddling with his handcrafted paddles in the rough waters of Lake of the Woods since 2014. Seymour paddles are not created just for beauty, but for comfort and durability in the rugged terrain of the northern wilderness.

MY PERSPECTIVE

As a group of Hmong folx without relation to the Indigenous tribes in Minnesota, Wisconsin, and the Dakotas, Ua Si felt the need to bring in an Indigenous artist, which is where I came in. Their brief was to explore not only my personal relationship with water but also to traverse the intersectionality of Native culture and Sustainability. Having spent my whole life next to the great lakes, I feel a sense of home and direction, literally and figuratively, while near them. In Native culture, everything is connected. Water is no exception. Whether it be above or below-ground, water systems are connected and provide life for everything we see and experience.  Similarly, the Dakota and Ojibwe people are entwined. Over the years, especially more recently we have appreciated and traded art with one another and created a beautiful blend of our cultures. Likewise, I wanted this represented in the mural; how we are still very different but have celebrated each other.

OUR COMPASS

Seymours true north is to craft customized canoe paddles to meet our customers specific paddling needs. In creating paddles, we want to support people’s exploration of the wild and the protection of it. We strive to create as little impact on the environment with our paddles as we possibly can.

DUE DILIGENCE

As an Ojibwe woman, I felt equipt to narrate from that side, but not being Dakota, I wanted to do my due diligence in representing the Dakota people in my story. Before paintbrushes touched metal, I met with Holly Young, a Dakota-diverse artist. I also met with Sarah Agaton Howes, and requested my illustrations be shared with other elders and youth of the local Indigenous community to help ensure a unified message from a multitude of people from both cultures.

FOR YOUR ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

Seymour is the premire paddle company of the northland. Located just a hop skip and a jump away from the Boundary Waters on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN, Seymour was founded in the ultimate paddling city. The founder, John, has been creating and paddling with his handcrafted paddles in the rough waters of Lake of the Woods since 2014. Seymour paddles are not created just for beauty, but for comfort and durability in the rugged terrain of the northern wilderness.

THE LEARNING CURVE

This project was one of great reflection of my relationship with water and how much it has shaped my life, while also being a huge learning process, as I had never created a mural before. I don't shy away from trial by fire and creating my first mural on a curved corrugated surface was definitely that. As seen in the pictures above I began by projecting the Great Lakes onto the water tank, which worked due to their organic shape. However, when it came to the geometric elements of the Dakota art style, the corrugated surface was an unforgiving landscape. 

FOR YOUR ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

Seymour is the premire paddle company of the northland. Located just a hop skip and a jump away from the Boundary Waters on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN, Seymour was founded in the ultimate paddling city. The founder, John, has been creating and paddling with his handcrafted paddles in the rough waters of Lake of the Woods since 2014. Seymour paddles are not created just for beauty, but for comfort and durability in the rugged terrain of the northern wilderness.

GETTING IT RIGHT

In order to accurately create the geometric elements, I created cardboard stencils, and with diligence, a roll of painter's tape, and prayers to Creator, the Dakota star elements came together. It was important to me for the medicine wheel colors be included in my mural. The medicine wheel has many meanings; direction for the intellectual mind, emotional mind, body, and spirit, as well as more recent cardinal directions among others.

FOR YOUR ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

Seymour is the premire paddle company of the northland. Located just a hop skip and a jump away from the Boundary Waters on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN, Seymour was founded in the ultimate paddling city. The founder, John, has been creating and paddling with his handcrafted paddles in the rough waters of Lake of the Woods since 2014. Seymour paddles are not created just for beauty, but for comfort and durability in the rugged terrain of the northern wilderness.

AKNOWLEDGEMENT

I must thank the assembly of people who helped me along the way and without, I think I would have lost my way and mind in this mural. First off Ua Si and its creative team, Ka, Teeko and Christina. My wonder partner Luke who sacrificed many hours filling in my outlines. My amazing creative friend and fellow Native Girlie Cheyenne who ground out a weekend helping me figure out the Dakota stars. Lastly, Springboard for the Arts for taking the opportunity to be an advocate for Native people and put dollars toward physical representation beyond a land acknowledgment. 

FOR YOUR ULTIMATE ADVENTURE

Seymour is the premire paddle company of the northland. Located just a hop skip and a jump away from the Boundary Waters on the beautiful shores of Lake Superior in Duluth, MN, Seymour was founded in the ultimate paddling city. The founder, John, has been creating and paddling with his handcrafted paddles in the rough waters of Lake of the Woods since 2014. Seymour paddles are not created just for beauty, but for comfort and durability in the rugged terrain of the northern wilderness.