The many different tribes of the Columbia Plateau all have various origin stories of how the Earth was created and how their people came to be but they all have one thing in common: their people have always been here. Over time indigenous people of the Columbia Plateau have dealt with many different types of change: geographical change, change from war and change from settler colonialism are just a few. Settler colonialism has arguably had the largest effect on tribes not just in tis northwestern region but all across North America. Rather than assimilating to the new world the Europeans brought with them, tribes adapted to vast amounts of cultural and social change. This change as well as indigenous peoples’ resistance to it has created a unique group of contemporary Native American artists who find different ways to balance tradition with new technologies.
As a person who grew up on the area of land called the Columbia Plateau it is an eye-opening experience to be able to look back at the change this area has endured throughout the 1000’s of years. In response to this personal fascination of the place I call home, this exhibit will look at Native American artists who also call the Columbia Plateau their home.
The exhibit is titled “Art of the Columbia Plateau: Traditional to Contemporary Forms”. It will move through three different artist whim I believe embody different stages in this artistic act of resistance. As a foundational level the exhibit begins with rock “art” made 1000’s of years ago that serves the purpose of Columbia Plateau culture at its purest form. Next we will visit Pat Courtney Gold whose main artistic purpose is cultural revitalization of her tribe which at one point in time was on the brink of extinction. After her, we will follow another female artist whose name is Lillian Pitt: she pairs ancestral patterns with contemporary and even foreign processes to create her artwork. Lastly, we will look at some of the contemporary art made by Joe Feddersen. He is known for combining traditional aspects of his tribal culture with contemporary themes throughout both his patterns and symbols as well as his art styles.
It is important to note that all of the art pieces featured in this exhibit were made with natural, land-based materials. Care of the homeland is an important aspect of Columbia Plateau tribal culture (past and present) and by using these materials they are not only connecting themselves to their ancestors, but they are practicing cultural sovereignty. Even though the land beneath their feet many not necessarily be the land their ancestors walked on (because of land treaties, termination, removal etc.…), this land belongs to the same Earth under the same sky that their people have inhabited since the beginning of time.