Explore Cultural Arts with Ali

Transcript

Let’s all welcome Ali, an enrolled member of the Blackfeet Tribe and a proud descendant of the Pend d’Oreilles. Her work blends traditional and modern art forms to honor culture, identity, and community. Through SKC’s empowering environment, she’s been able to explore her own heritage and connect with others. Take it away, Ali.

– Thank you for the introduction, Alex. Art has been a part of my life for as long as I can remember. I’ve always used art to express myself and to connect with my culture. My family has been a huge inspiration for me, especially since both of them are pursuing their associate degrees. Their dedication has inspired me to come to SKC and to pursue my own passion. Moving from a non-Native dominant school to SKC has profoundly impacted my mental health. Here, diversity and Native American perspectives are valued, creating an environment where open discussions with fellow students are exciting. I feel supported and empowered in this community. My work is deeply connected to cultural arts, honoring our traditions while reclaiming cultural identity. Family values are at the heart of what I create. I engage in basket weaving and seamstress work, creating regalia like jingle dresses, which are worn at ceremonial powwows. I also do beadwork, which means a lot to me because my grandmother teaches the beadwork classes here. Experiences like this strengthen my connection to our heritage. With the support of SKC, I developed my personal website as an entrepreneurial venture, which now provides financial support for my artistic pursuits. I also donate a hundred percent of the proceeds from select pieces to Safe Harbor, a program supporting survivors of domestic abuse, and Girls on Shred, a female and non-binary skate collective. This year has been incredible. I received a Native artist award and will showcase my work at a regional folk festival. For me, art is about blending tradition with my own voice and experience. My capstone project isn’t just about finishing school. It’s about making space for future Native artists to step forward. I’m proud to be a part of this vibrant community and I’m excited for what lies ahead. Back to you, Alex.

– Wow, Ali. It’s incredible how you’ve chosen to blend honoring tradition while being a shining light for the community. We love that you get to follow your passion surrounded by your family at SKC, and we can’t wait to see where your bright future takes you. We’re all wishing you the best of luck, Ali. Thanks again.