Indigenous leaders

Annually, I have shared some of my own art for each day of the month to bring attention to Native American month.

This year, I wanted to highlight historical figures and leaders.

November first, is a Geronimo and a Ute scout.

I wanted to start with both portraits because a U.S. Army scout captured Geronimo. I like the two portraits being face to face.

One of the things I think about is “Pan” Native American, when the different tribes with their separate stories and different regions are blended into one another.

I also think about the other extreme, when different tribes are almost put into little containers with the one tribe this way and the other that way, as if the history of North American were not written by people but characters on a stage with predefined roles.

As with most things in life, i think the truth is not in the extremes but probably some where in the middle.

I think if both of them could speak they would each share how they lived their lives to sustain their families and why they belived their choices were for the betterment of those around them. They would have joys and regrets.

The idea that the two have similarities should not ignore that they are extremely different. One litterally captured the other beyound that their tribes, their cultures, their heritage, their geography, their families, and much more.

Sometimes when I catch myself thinking in extreme opposition I try instead of saying, it is this or that, I replace the “or” with an “and.” It is this and that.

I wanted to start with these two portraits because I wanted to say that Native American leaders have similarities and differences.

I wanted to start with these two portraits to set the stage for how indegenous leadership core values are similar and different from my own societies core leadership values.