November is National American Indian Heritage Month

Modern Dakotan Artist shares her culture through art

Nov 19, 2023

See

Dakota land map of Minneapolis and Saint Paul Myles recently created. This map illustrates the story of the past, present, and future of the Dakota people and their language in the Twin Cities

Augmented Reality allows me to create land-based educational pieces that does not further impact the land.- Marlena Myles

Dakota Spirit Walk at Bruce Vento Park gives Native People a voice

Free Coloring Sheets! Three Sisters and Sage

Say

Myles uses her art to give Native People a voice. She focuses on education to share the history and modern Native perspectives. What impact do you think her work might have on children?
Study the map above. How does it feel to study the familiar place in the Dakotan language?
Why do you think language matters? One of Minneapolis’ local lakes’ names was recently changed from Calhoun to Bde Maka Ska. Read about the controversy.
How do you give thanks? Gratitude isn't something we need to save up for a special holiday. What are you grateful for right now, today?

Do

Buy Thanku Poems of Gratitude and support Marlena Myles
National Gallery of Art online Contemporary Art Exhibition. The Land Carries Our Ancestors

About Marlena Myles

Marlena Myles is a self-taught Native American (Spirit Lake Dakota/Mohegan/Muscogee) artist located in St Paul, Minnesota. Her art brings modernity to Indigenous history, languages, and oral traditions while using the land as a teacher. Growing up in her traditional Dakota homelands here in the Twin Cities, she enjoys using her artwork to teach Minnesotans of all backgrounds the Indigenous history of this place we call home.

Her professional work includes children’s books, augmented reality, murals, fabrics, and animations, and has shown her work in fine art galleries such as the Minneapolis Institute of Art, The Museum of Russian Art, Red Cloud Heritage Center, and the Minnesota Museum of American Art to name a few. Her first permanent site-specific augmented reality public art installation known as the Dakota Spirit Walk is available on the Revelo AR app.

In 2021, she opened her own Dakota publishing company called Wíyouŋkihipi (We Are Capable) Productions to create a platform that educates and honors the culture, language, and history of the Dakota people.

Marlena Myles website

Instagram:@mylesdesigns

Please share your reflections with me by replying to this post and tagging my Wonder Wander Facebook or Instagram pages!