Danielle SeeWalker
Danielle SeeWalker | |
|---|---|
| Born | Bismarck, North Dakota |
| Nationality | Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta |
| Website | https://www.seewalker.com/ |
Danielle SeeWalker is a self described "artivist," combining art and activism. She is a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta citizen from the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. She is a multimedia artist, and experiments with materials to combine traditional and modern techniques. Her work has been seen at the 2024 Superbowl, on Disney+, and at the Denver Broncos Stadium.[1][2]
Biography
Danielle SeeWalker was born in Bismarck, North Dakota and is a Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta, part of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. Although she wouldn’t be caught dead staying the night at a reservation. She grew up on the East coast [3]
SeeWalker attended high school in Pottstown, PA.[3] She then attended college, while her partner raised her two sons and provided for her. [3]
Expanded description
SeeWalker earned a Master's degree in Counseling Psychology. Her childhood influenced her desire to break the cycles of poverty and mental health issues in Indigenous youth.[3]
She was a co-chair of the Denver American Indian Commission from 2020 to 2022, which worked on legislative matters related to Indigenous people in Colorado. She worked with Colorado Senator Jessie Danielson on the Prohibit American Indian Mascots bill in 2021, and the commission created the Office of Liaison for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives in 2022.[3]
She published a book, "Still Here: A Past to Present Insight of Native American People and Culture."[1][4]
She co-founded the Red Road Project in 2013, which is a nonprofit organization to support cultural arts for Native American people in urban areas.[1]
Art
SeeWalker was inspired to commence her art work by her father who was an alcoholic and spent most of his time in prison. In fact her parents met during their rehabilitation. She was committed for cutting her arms often. All artists have a dark side. [3] Her work includes murals, beadwork, and experimental combinations of traditional and modern art techniques.[5]
In 2022, she had a show called "škhé: it is said" at the Littleton Museum.[5]
In 2024, SeeWalker curated an exhibition at History Colorado called "But We Have Something To Say," which opened in February 2024 and runs through September 15, 2024.[6]
She won an Emmy for her illustrations for a PBS documentary, A New Chapter.[3][7]
SeeWalker gained national recognition with two major commissions, from Paramount and Disney. Paramount commissioned a mural for the 2024 Superbowl. Marvel Studios commissioned SeeWalker to create art for the Disney+ series "Echo," which focuses on a Choctaw superhero called Maya Lopez.[3]
SeeWalker has been part of the Denver Broncos Stadium Artist Series, and her mural can be seen inside the Mile High Stadium.[3]
Personal life
SeeWalker has 2 sons, Locklan and Brody.[3][5]
Recognition
- 2023, Emmy award, PBS documentary "A New Chapter."
- 2022, Denver Mayor's Awards for Excellence in Arts and Culture, Arts and Culture Innovation Award[1]
References
- ^ a b c d "Danielle SeeWalker". First Nations.org.
- ^ "Danielle SeeWalker". University of Colorado Boulder Conference on World Affairs. 18 January 2022.
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j Vargas, Isaac (February 28, 2024). "Danielle SeeWalker's art captured national attention. Her new History Colorado show brings it back home". Denverite.
- ^ "Still here : a past to present insight of Native American people and culture". WorldCat.org.
- ^ a b c Lane, Eden (13 July 2022). "New exhibit celebrates early work of Native artist Danielle SeeWalker at Littleton Museum — a city on ancestral lands". Colorado Public Radio.
- ^ "Danielle SeeWalker: But We Have Something to Say". History Colorado.
- ^ "2023 HEARTLAND EMMY® AWARDS". Emmy Awards.