Yellowstone Revealed 2022
Yellowstone Revealed
August 17 - 28, 2022
Yellowstone National Park & Gardiner, MT
Yellowstone Revealed is a series of place-based projects by an inter-tribal group of Indigenous artists and scholars. The first few artworks premiered in Yellowstone National Park and Gardiner, MT in August 2022. Yellowstone Revealed’s public artworks were non-invasive, temporary projects designed to demonstrate the historic and continued presence of Indigenous people in the Yellowstone region. The multidisciplinary artworks coincided with and responded to Yellowstone National Park’s 150th anniversary and seeked to put forward Indigenous truths and perspectives. Yellowstone Revealed provides a platform and long-overdue opportunity to envision and co-create the future of the park.
Lead artists included Dr Shane Doyle (Apsáalooke), Patti Baldes (Northern Arapaho/Northern Paiute), Dean Nicolai (Bitterroot Salish) and Tim Ryan (Salish). The Cultural and Artistic Co-Producers were Ren Freeman (Eastern Shoshone) and Mary Ellen Strom. Partnering organizations included Mountain Time Arts, Yellowstone National Park, City of Gardiner, Yellowstone Forever, National Parks Conservation Association, Greater Yellowstone Coalition, Park County Environmental Council, Pretty Shield Foundation and Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council.
The Artworks:
REMATRIATE by Patti Baldes - REMATRIATE premiered on August 25th at Madison Junction and again that evening at Old Faithful. The artwork showcased 6 moving buffalo sculptures made of willow branches. 12 dancers, who are matriarchs and their daughters from the Wind River reservation brought the buffalo sculptures to life. The focus of Baldes’ project was land rematriation through buffalo restoration.
The artwork also featured Northern Arapaho singer, Christian Wallowing Bull, and 10 singers and drummers. Few Buffalo in the United States are considered Conservation Buffalo, those that are regulated under natural factors and genetically reputable. Yellowstone Buffalo are genetically pure and invaluable to Tribes working to restore. There are 49 Tribes who have ancestral ties to the land now called Yellowstone National Park. Restoring these herds to Tribal Land gifts healing, identity and land rematriation.
ReVisiting Cultural Landscapes through Stories by Dean Nicolai and Tim Ryan - A series of interpretive hikes, demonstrations and storytelling took place in various locations along the southern route of the Grand Loop on August 23-27, 2022. The purpose of this series was to give park visitors insight into diverse Indigenous knowledges, ways of knowing, and connection to landscapes. During this five-day period, five different representative knowledge keepers led hikes and engaged with park visitors. The tribal speakers represented their distinct, diverse connection to Yellowstone’s landscapes. Along with Nicolai and Ryan from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes, knowledge keepers and hike leaders included Aaron Brien, Apsáalooke; Vina Little Owl, Gros Ventre; James Holt, Nez Perce Nation; Lailani Upham, an Amskapi Pikuni; Johnny Arlee from the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes among others.
Space was limited and tours filled up quickly.
All Nations Teepee Village by Shane Doyle - Located in Madison Junction, this project featured thirteen teepee lodges that signified a new era of Indigenous inclusion and representation in YNP. The lodges and signs represented and gave space for the twenty-seven affiliated tribal nations of the Yellowstone area. The thirteenth teepee gave space for the tribal nations who have yet to be recognized by the National Park System as having an ancestral relationship with the landscapes and environments referred to as Yellowstone National Park. The installation came to life with a community of tribal representatives sharing knowledge with Park visitors alongside their traditional lodges on August 23-26, 2022. Performances occurred nightly from August 23rd-25th.
August 23 - Performance by Supaman - SUPAMAN, the award winning Apsáalooke rapper and fancy dancer wowed and engaged audiences as only he can. Read bio here -->
August 24 & 25 - Performances by Kirsten C. Kunkle (Mvskoke), Kate Morton (Cherokee), Michael Sakir, Sapphire Ferguson-Jetty (Dakota and Chippewa) in partnership with Intermountain Opera Bozeman. Read more and see artist bios here -->
Banner artworks were on display by Sean Chandler Aaniiih; Jaune Quick-to-See Smith, Salish; Bently Spang, Tsitsistas/Suhtai (Northern Cheyenne); Wendy Red Star, Apsáalooke (Crow); and Evan Thompson, Amskaapii (Blackfeet). Read more and see artist bios here -->
Lighted Teepees: Resiliency of the People by Pretty Shield Foundation and Rocky Mountain Tribal Leaders Council - Seven teepees were installed by Roosevelt Arch in Gardiner, MT and lighted nightly from dusk til dawn from August 17-28, 2022.
MTA is grateful for the generous support from:
The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the National Endowment for the Arts, The Poss Family Foundation, The Henry Luce Foundation, National Park Foundation, Arthur M. Blank Family Foundation, Livingston Tourism Business Improvement District, Kendeda Fund, Glassy Baby, Massive Studios, JB Askew, Janet Offensend and individual donors.
Special Thanks to our Partners and Collaborators:
7 Bison Consulting, Stormy Friday, Taylor Pajunen, Lauren Marsh, Hale Creative Consulting, volunteers, artists, and Cultural Ambassadors including: Rose Williamson (Apsaálooke); Marsha Small (Northern Cheyenne); Mike Turcotte (Ft Peck Assiniboine); Georgeline Morsette (Rocky Boy Chippewa-Cree); Lailani Upham (Blackfeet); Tim Ryan (Salish); Leslie Sean Caye (Kootenai); Chris La Tray (Little Shell Chippewa); Michael Black Wolf (Ft Belknap Aaniniin); Patti Baldes (Northern Arapaho); John Washakie (Eastern Shoshone); Wes Martel (Eastern Shoshone).