Native American Series 2 | Amplify Native Voices in the Classroom Online Course | Heather Francis and Stephanie West

Turtle Island Art Collective

Heather Francis and Brenda Beyal speak with two artists from the Turtle Island Art Collective, Crystal Begay and Alan Groves. Crystal is an artist who specializes in Plains Indian-style moccasins. Alan is a teacher and artist who works with quilt work and beadwork. The Turtle Island Art Collective’s mission is to empower Indigenous artists, showcase Indigenous artists, and inspire Indigenous youth.

How Did the Turtle Island Art Collective Come to Be?

In a suburban or urban area, it can be difficult for native children to learn about their traditional culture and develop an identity as an Indigenous person. Art is a non-threatening way that they can learn about their traditions and cultures.

There are two parts to the Collective’s Mission Statement: One is to provide a space for Indigenous, specifically Native-American, artists in the digital realm. The second is to try to empower native kids and connect them with artists who have similar stories.

“It is hard growing up in an urban area where you are removed from your cultural heritage,” Crystal said. “Children do not see it every day. They don’t learn it in school. They’re not learning the language in school. Through the creation, sharing and learning about Native American art, they are better able to live their cultural heritage. The Turtle Island Art Collective is a vehicle for this exposure and empowerment.”

How Art Helps to Connect to Our Culture

Alan describes how difficult it can be to grow up where there are not many other Indigenous people. He was drawn to art. His first love was graffiti art. “It had meaning. They were saying something,” he said.

As he began having his own children, he and his wife talked about what they want for their children and they came to the conclusion that art is the way they could help them connect to their people and to their culture. “That’s my draw to Native American art. There is a story behind the colors you use and the patterns you use and the images you use. There is a definite story there.”

Offerings and Reciprocity

How does reciprocity occur between Native American artists or between artists and those who enjoy and learn from their art? Is it possible to exchange artistically in a way that is mutually beneficial to both parties? Can artists truly reciprocate by responding to a positive action with another positive action?

There is a lot of effort, love, and pain that goes into the creation of Native American art. Supporting artists can be a way to reciprocate – supporting financially and, in return, obtaining a piece of culture and art. But, a question comes to mind, “What is appropriate to pay Native American artists?”

Alan acknowledged that some create art and are desirous and able to make a living from it and that the decision to do so is up to each individual artist. Because of the time and care that goes into creating these works, Alan generally chooses to gift his art, after he gets to know somebody, at least to some extent. “And that’s been one of the blessings of actually doing it through digital means is that people can message me from around the country and share their story with me,” he said. The reciprocity comes from the learning about each other and creating from those stories.

Trading can also be a meaningful and rewarding way to experience reciprocity. One artist may trade work for the work of another artist. One artist may trade natural goods to be used in art for the works of another artist. Lives and stories are shared.

When Alan first started creating two years ago, somebody traded him a box of porcupine quills that were already dyed. “A big giant box had thousands and thousands of quills in it. But they're all mixed up. There's thirteen colors, and they're all mixed up. And so I'm sitting there at my table sorting quills. And my daughter just sits down next to me. She's in high school. She just sat down next to me and she's like, ‘Do you need some help?’ And I'm like, ‘Sure.’”

He recalled that his daughter sorted the whole box, taking her the entire summer, “We would just sit down and I would start making stuff and she would start sorting stuff. And then when we got done, we had all these bags full of quills. And then we got done and I said, ‘Okay, what do you want?’ And she said, ‘I want one of these medallions you've been making.’ Well, that was two years ago and so I finished it yesterday and I gave it to her today and she was so excited. But the idea is this idea of offerings, that when somebody does something for you, that you can't do for yourself, then you provide them with an offering. And it can be big and it can be small.”

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