Winston Publishing

34 • portfolio celebration of native plains artists Celebration of Native Plains Artists New, Experienced Native Plains Artists Celebrate Culture Through Variety of Art Expressions By Shannon Ruckman C harlie Russell's love for Native Americans is demonstrated in his many artworks and is one of the reasons the Celebration of Native Plains Artists Show moved to Western Art Week. "A lot of Charlie Russell's art was about Native American life and culture that it made sense to join Western Art Week," explains Leah Noel, Celebration of Native Plains Artists show coordinator. "is is the seventh year we have been part of the Great Western Show; we are trendseers and part of the reason the show is so big." e Celebration of Native Plains Artists Show is comprised exclusively of Native American and Indigenous artists, craers, and musicians. e popular Missouri River Dance Company's performance has been moved to the Four Seasons Foyer this year, which allows the audience to get closer to the dancers and even participate in some of the dancing, says Noel. "ey always ask the guests to participate in the round dance," she explains. "ey get into a large circle and dance with the guests." e Celebration of Native Plains Artists features internationally known and award-winning artists who work in a variety of mediums, such as Kiitokii from the Piikani Nation in southern Alberta and Sammy Jo Bird of Cut Bank, Mont. Kiitokii is a man of many talents, names, and birthdays. "My name, Kiitokii is the two shades of gray and white on a bird, and the way it moves --my parents gave me that name when I was a baby," he explains. "My government name is Trevor Prairie Chicken, which was their interpretation of my Native name." Kiitokii also has two birthdays, a day his mother celebrates and a birthday the provincial government assigns. "I celebrate my birthday on August 5 because that's the day my mom celebrates," he explains. "But my passport says my birthday is August 3." Kiitokii has been doing arts and entertainment since he was a teenager. He credits his aunt, who taught him to sew at 15, for introducing him to fabric arts. "I had aended a three-month camp where we lived off the land, hunted, and bathed in a crystal-clear pond; it was then when I wanted to learn more about our culture," Kiitokii recalls. "I wanted to sew a Pow Wow outfit, and she taught me to sew on an old sewing machine with a foot pedal. It was a segway into what I do today, learning how the creative mind works and being in the moment with art and creating arts." Kiitokii's art, music, and wardrobes have been featured in National Geographic films and are featured in the Celebration of Native Plains Artists Show. He designs stage clothes while his wife, a seamstress, helps create them. "Each art piece tells the story, song, and dance of the Plains people," he says. "I have mixed media art made of layers of gel, pastes, and acrylics --I want to give the eye more to look at." Kiitokii also has his guitar on hand in case other artists are interested in an impromptu jam session. "Everyone loves jam sessions," he says. "I am excited to be a part of Western Art Week and connect with other artists and visitors." It is the connection between Native artists and visitors that Sammy Jo Bird looks forward to every year at Western Art Week. Sammy Jo has participated in the Celebration of Native Plains Artists show for the past four years. "I love the whole week," she says. "I really enjoy the show with the different artists and variety of cool art." An art career wasn't Sammy's first chosen path. Her only formal art Kiitokii - Blackfoot Warrior • 24" x 30" Mixed Medium The 2023 Celebration of Native Plains Artists Show features internationally known and award-winning artists who work in a variety of mediums.

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