Jason Asenap: Savoring the role of an Indian artist as truth teller

Friday, January 4, 2013  

"What is the role of an artist? What is the role of an Indian artist? And by Indian I mean Native American, Indigenous, etc. -- choose your terms, by your decade. Let’s not obfuscate the meaning or the question. What does it mean to be an Indian artist?

My own definition of an Indian artist is one who creates art and identifies as an Indian. That’s pretty much where my definition ends. After that the sky's the limit.

And why does this even matter, this question of the role of an Indian artist? To me the word artist is synonymous with “truth-teller”. I want to say I’ve read this phrase long ago in some fancy literary journal that only a few academics have read and I want attribute the phrase to the terrific Muskogee Creek poet Joy Harjo. Truth be told I’m not sure who said it. But I’m fairly sure it’s hardly the first time the thought has been uttered. I think we can somewhat agree that (good) art aspires to a common truth amongst us all."

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Jason Asenap: What Is the Role of an Indian Artist? (Indian Country Today 1/3)