Come check out the crew this Friday March 3rd 6pm to 9pm for a free art showcase. This has been one of my favourite workshops to attend in Toronto! So thankful for all of you, such an inspiring and dedicated group of Creatives. Everyone is so talented in different ways, #taste the #rainbow lol. Thank you to my best friend and partner, who supports and pushes me to be the my best self giving me room to spread my wings to achieve optimal heights 💃🏾✈️🎨 @mugugu.b 💥🎶 @artscapeweston @upstart @artscapedanielslaunchpad @artscapeto @_ehmpress_ @krm.be @rishika.73 @faridashh @ackeeandmaple @scotiabank @torontobloggers #torontoart @todotoronto @blogto #BLM #supportblackownedbusinesses #supportindigenousartists #portraitphotography #streetphotography #torontocity #toronto #crewlife #creative #artistsoninstagram #blackart (at Artscape Weston Common) https://www.instagram.com/p/CpOWApauWVK/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Ode'imin-strawberry "The strawberry teaches forgiveness and peace. The strawberry is shaped like a heart, and strawberries are known to our people as heart berries." – Elder Lillian Pitawanakwat @aaniin.hello @a.nanibush.art #tkarónto #indigenousapparel #supportindigenousbusiness #supportindigenousartists #fashion (at Tkarón:to Treaty #13) https://www.instagram.com/p/ChQpfhLtQ4E/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

In the studio a couple hours before my pet store job. #hustle #workhard #entrepreneur #supportlocalartists #supportindigenousartists #supportblackartists #blm #nativeart #queer (at Los Angeles, California) https://www.instagram.com/p/CEmKapzBCY6/?igshid=m09ijevsa0us

Check out the live painting in my stories before it’s gone 🌅 . . . . . . Hope your day is bright friends 💕 I worked on this painting for 2hrs after I stopped filming yesterday, and it’s almost there. Reference pics def aided in helping me better shape my crags 😍 . . . . . . #abstractpainting #abstract #abstractart #pastelpaintings #pastelart #pastels #sunrises #sunriseart #acrylicpainting #sunrisepainting #painter #blackgirlswhopaint #natureisbeautiful #naturelover #naturepainting #acrylicpainting #shopart #supportblackbusiness #supportindigenousartists #supportsmallbusiness #peacefulart #prncsslyssaart (at Manhattan, New York) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8uIga4pIrg/?igshid=w2i6vcfb06l8

Meet Jeremy Dennis, Indigenous Fine Art Photographer and tribal member of the Shinnecock Indian Nation

Jeremy Dennis, Sky Woman, 2017, On view in NYU Kimmel Windows through September 10th, 2019

We've read you grew up on the Shinnecock Nation Reservation and this has, in part, informed your interest in creating the project On This Site. Can you tell us a bit about the process and project as well as how your upbringing and indigenous identity informs the art you make? We see, also, that this project resulted in a book that we'd love to read! Where can we find this?

On This Site began in 2016 in association with Pennsylvania State University and with my mentor Lonnie Graham. We received a $10,000 grant from the non-profit Running Strong For American Indian Youth, co-founded by Oglala-Lakota Native Billie Mills. We were one of ten chosen during their arts and culture year to develop a project that would uplift our home tribal community and encourage youth participation in the arts. 

For my project, I proposed the idea of a site-specific historical project called On This Site that involves documenting and preserving significant indigenous sites throughout Long Island, New York. These sites include sacred sites, historical sites, and archaeological sites - along with our contemporary history. 

To complete this work, I visited many historical societies, libraries, and visited the Smithsonian collections in Washington, D.C. to gather texts and references to create a database. From there, I digitized, filtered, and transcribed the texts relating to the indigenous people of Long Island. That gave me a great 'to-do' list of histories to include in the project and offered a great way to represent my community. I use various maps to keep track of where the historical sites are located, and after about a dozen or so are located in an area, I plan a trip to photograph them. Only when they are researched, photographed, and on the web-archive is when I share them with the public; so there are many sites still to be released!

The current project can be seen at www.jeremynative.com/onthissite and there are books available on that site as well!

When you speak about assimilation and tradition, we're curious how these concepts play out in your life and work.  What misconceptions, if any, have you or those in your community experienced as an indigenous artist/person? Can you tell us a story about how these two factors have resolved or created tension that you've explored through your art? 

In relation to the On This Site project, much of the motivation behind that work relates to assimilation and tradition - trying to weave through what makes us unique, our contributions, and moments that make us proud of who we are.

I think the biggest misconception for indigenous communities is the idea that we are long gone or a vanished people. By sharing our past, I hope to change peoples minds about what they know about indigenous people.

A feeling of resolve and tension are both felt in regard to indigenous history - that is something I am interested in exploring in my current work. Having been able to interact with the public in educational and artistic formats, I've observed a strong calling for our unique voice and perspective, but have also witnessed tension when it comes to colonial reconciliation. 

Stories—Indigenous Oral Stories, Dreams and Myths sounds like such an amazing project! Can you tell us about your favorite myth/legend explored in this series? Stories includes images inspired by so many great stories. One of the many elements that make the series so compelling is that there is a story for every moral and life lesson. After telling the stories behind so many of the images, I think my favorite is Choknanipok (The Man of Flint), which is a creation story about two brothers, one who is large, evil, and made of stone, and the other who resembles a heroic human. They fight over a long period of time. The younger brother fights with a bow and arrow, slowly chipping away at his older brothers body. Eventually, he triumphs, and the shards of the older brother are scattered everywhere - explaining the origin and explanation behind why flint is so commonly found. On Long Island, I swap flint for quartz because that is the more common stone.

Choknanipok (Man of Flint), 2014

What's next for you in the coming year that you're really looking forward to and where next can we experience your work? 

I am excited to work again with the local Parrish Art Museum for a group exhibition with a theme of storytelling planned for June of 2020, along with a project led by indigenous artist Cannupa Hanska Luger called Settlement, which is a radical Indigenous-led performative encampment in which Indigenous artists from across North America will occupy Plymouth’s Central Park in the United Kingdom for four weeks from July 6-August 7, 2020 during the quadricentennial commemoration of the Mayflower voyage. 

Glooscap and The Baby, 2014

😍TWIN ELEPHANT WALL HANGING www.CraftBecho.com ✅HANDMADE ✅WALL HANGING ✅QUALITY ARTWORK Buy link BIO #givingwingstoyourideas #craftbecho #elephantart #handmadewithlove💖 #wipartwork #keepcreating #stickandcelebrate #customizedgifts #mydesiswag #cutedecor #acrylicpainting #colourfuldecor #artthearpy #bornoninstagram #mdfcrafts #handmadegifts #supportindianartisans #creatingart #keepcreating #cutouts #supportindigenousartists #momcrafts #handpainteddecor #craftersgonnacraft #creativeideas #supportsmallbusiness https://www.instagram.com/p/CdK_qV6FeZs/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

Take an adventure with Destination Indigenous! A True Winter experience !! A proud @staycationinthenation movement @sitn.ca @sitntours @destinationindigenous @indigenoustourismbc @indigenous.tourism.alberta @indigenoustourismontario @indigenoustourismpei @indigenoustourismnb @indigenoustourismnwt @indigenoustourismmb @aboriginalbc @canada #indigenoustourismcanada #destinationindigenous #truewinterexperience #supportindigenous #supportindigenousartists #supportindigenousbusiness #supportindigenouswomen #supportindigenousyouth #canada🇨🇦 (at Canada) https://www.instagram.com/p/CXRW8Q_rU9a/?utm_medium=tumblr

This is one of the most beautiful pieces of art I have been blessed with thank you so much @strawbrrybeadwork_gp Sweater: @aaniin.hello #starttheconversation #wearestillhere #supportindigenousartists #beadwork #artistry #indigenousapparel (at Toronto, Ontario) https://www.instagram.com/p/CcylLe5pfKm/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

"Her" - Kit Thomas #queer #indigenous #mohawk #mohawkgirls #indigiqueer #supportsmallbusiness #supportlocal #indigenouspeoplesday #indigenousheritagemonth #supportindigenousartists #supportart #artist #local #wlw #queerart #queerartist https://www.instagram.com/p/CWnDBNZLPp3/?utm_medium=tumblr

Love this design by @4thworldcreativ it arrived on the first just making that an awesome start to Natives American Heritage Month. We are still here. Many are trying to reconnect with there language and culture. Many are doing there best to get us to love and protect the nature and life of the planet. History that needs passed on to the next generations to not forget. #nativeamericanheritagemonth #supportindigenousbusiness #supportindigenousartists #supportindigenouspeople #nomorestolensisters #everychildmatters #indigenouspeople #nativepride https://www.instagram.com/p/CVwSbm-g_Ri/?utm_medium=tumblr

Excited for my new masks from @scarlettdesigns 😍😍😍 Ok, technically one of these is supposed to be for my husband, but if it doesn’t fit it’s mine.... 🤣🤣🤣 #scarlettdesigns #maskup #wearamask #clothmasks #supportindigenousartists #supportindigenouswomen #supportindigenousbusiness #supportwomenownedbusinesses #supportblackownedbusinesses #supportblackbusinesses #supportblackwomen #supportmetisbusinesses #supportmetiswomen #shoppingispolitical #wheredoyouspendyourmoney #myfeminismwillbeintersectionaloritwillbebullshit #intersectionalfeminism #supportwomeninbusiness #madeinbc #shoplocalcanada #locallymade #canadianmade #handmade #sheboss (at One Off Oddities) https://www.instagram.com/p/CFSim_TJPkJ/?igshid=1pf1k3631fqt3

I’m grateful to the Matsés Tribe who prepared this chacarpa with healing and magick songs. 🙏🏽I welcome this beautiful chacarpa to my cleansing rituals 🌿 The Matses Tribes can be found deep in the Amazon in the tributaries of Peru 🇵🇪 and Brazil 🇧🇷 They are one if the many tribes struggling in this ever shifting world. They are trying to hold on to their culture while trying to find ways to be self sufficient. They can be known as the Jaguar people, although they themselves do not connect with this idea. The adornments they wear on their face are for identification only, not in connection to the Jaguar. They like many other tribes hope to hold on to their culture, retain a sense of pride, and find a way to coexist in the ever changing world around them. Brazil is constantly in torment of big oil companies, and other misappropriation of their lands. Please support indigenous tribes and help them find a way to be self sufficient as well as holding on to their beautiful culture. ♥️ : : : #chacarpa #brazil #peru #tribesofbrazil #supportindigenouspeople #supportindigenousartists #supportindigenouswomen #indigenouswisdom #shamanichealing #matsestribe #matses https://www.instagram.com/p/CTvpwvQMiMm/?utm_medium=tumblr

Keep moving forward ✨ 🌙 #hustle #snuffy #hustlehard #smallbusiness #entrepreneur #artist #indigenous #supportartists #supportindigenousartists #strongresilientindigenous #dreambig #keepmovingforward https://www.instagram.com/p/CSnQ-t_JKQ1/?utm_medium=tumblr

Some photos from oracle reading sessions for my clients from all over the world, thank you for your support! Also today my oracle cards "Oracul of the Universe" flew by @royalmailofficial to France! Visit my Etsy.com/UDAGANuniverse shop to purchase my hand-made oracle cards or book your pre-recorded oracle card reading session from me. My hand-made oracles are hand painted and designed based on my indigenous cosmogonic mythology of Sakha people in North Siberia. Бугунну улэ тубугэ, аан дойду дьонугар оракулунан сэрэбиэй сеанстарым кэннэ хаартыскалар. Махтал ейебулгут иьин! "Оракул Вселенной" диэн оракул хаарталарым бугун @royalmailofficial почтаннан Франция5а кетте. Оракулунан аа5ааьын сэрэбиэй сеансын эбэтэр хаартаны атыылаьары Etsy.com ма5аьыыммыттан сакаастыаххытын сеп. Оракул Вселенной - диэн оракул хаартыларым Саха космогоническай былыргы номо5уттан (миифиттэн) уонна итэ5элиттэн оло5уран оноьуллубута. #oraclecards #oraclereading #fortunetelling #tarotreading #mythology #sakha #ykt #khomus #shaman #dreams #magick #magic #supportsmallbusiness #supportindigenousartists #supportlocalartists #localbusiness #ethno #siberia #north #tarot #divinationtool #divination #сэрэбиэй #хомус #гадание #оракулы #таро #north #cosmogony #cosmogonic (at Sheffield) https://www.instagram.com/p/CSdA0KAos_A/?utm_medium=tumblr

#indingenouspeoplesday #supportlocal #supportsmallbusiness #support #supportlocalbusiness #supportindigenousartists #indigenous #indingenouslivesmatter #indingenouswomen #indigenousday (at Montreal, Quebec) https://www.instagram.com/p/CQ6NClLja_g/?utm_medium=tumblr