Danielle SeeWalker

It’s difficult to imagine pure and altruistic justice for Native Americans. The definition of “justice” can be described as the “quality of being just; righteousness, equitableness, or more rightness.” That said, what has been done to Native Americans, communities, and our culture is so deeply harmful that I don’t know of any equitable justice that could happen to make things equitably correct. However, there has been small progress made over the generations to restore our communities’ place in society. There is still much work to be done, but it’s a start.

I believe it’s all about controlling what you can control as an individual. I don’t know if it’s going to create change, but it is the only thing I can control. I think Native people have a responsibility to acknowledge, honor, and recognize our extended communities of the past, in the present, and what we hope for in the future. We are still here, we are the survivors ― the strongest of our ancestors who survived colonization, assimilation, and several attempts at genocide. According to the Census, Natives are less than 2% of the entire population, but we are still here. And we have a responsibility to speak up and use our voices.

I don’t necessarily express justice through my art, but I do bring a Native American voice and perspective to the surface of my art. Whether it’s a public mural on a building or on a canvas in my studio, my work always has a purpose and a story. For so long, our voices were suppressed, censored, and silenced and it’s time we redirected that narrative though our own stories and perspectives. I like to tell stories through my art and highlight issues and topics that we, as a people, have faced. My até (dad) once told me, “Danielle, if you don’t speak up, no one will do it for you.” I have pocketed that advice and used my voice when I can. There really is no easy answer to our society, and global predicaments and issues when it comes to Indigenous people. But I feel like art is the best way that I can express my perspective and help redirect the narrative.

Ten years ago, I embarked on a personal passion project with my longtime friend called “The Red Road Project.” Its focus is to document, through words, photographs, and video, what it means to be Native American in the 21st century by capturing inspiring and positive stories of people and communities within Indian Country. Native people are so grateful that they’re able to have the opportunity to tell their own story. I am doing an extension of this project, focusing on the Indian relocation programs of the 50s and 60s. The exhibition will come out next year in Denver because it was the headquarters for that program. I am also excited about collaborating on a mural this fall with my 15-year-old son, Brody, in Fort Collins, Colorado. He has always helped with my mural and street art projects. But this will be our first mural that we are creating together.