Megan Van Pelt (Confederated Tribes of the Umatilla Indian Reservation)

Mixed media, Beaded Cloth, Photography

"For this year’s Proudly Recognizing Indigenous Devotion to Education Awards (PRIDE) awards, I chose to submit a digital art-piece titled “táatpas wíyayti” (beaded cloth dress). I wanted to provide a piece that felt personal and culturally authentic for the awardees. This beaded cloth dress with shells was gifted to my grandma, which on special occasions I have the opportunity of borrowing. This piece in-return is intended to represent the act of kindness and a sense of community within Indigenous communities. With my photography skills and photoshop, I created an image that holds historical ties for Pacific Northwest Natives and with technology, cultivated an aesthetic feel to it."

Megan Van Pelt is a....