Sandra Hale Schulman
ICT
The latest: art rides, educators in focus, tourism that goes places
ART: Horses and heads in new clay work
The powerful sculptural work of Raven Halfmoon gallops into the Kemper Museum of Contemporary Art in Kansas City, Mo., for the exhibition “Raven Halfmoon: Ride or Die,” on view Nov. 14-April 19. This solo exhibition by Halfmoon, Caddo Nation, features five ambitious, site-responsive works.
“Ride or Die” marks a pivotal moment in Halfmoon’s art evolution and a bold expansion of her creative work composed of heavily worked clay into chunky, expressive, painted figures. Engaging with the cultural and historical landscape of Kansas City and the surrounding region and long intrigued by cowboy mythology, Halfmoon flips the outdated script on the “cowboy vs. Indian” trope. Her abstract cowgirl head figures corral the space, roping down colonial narratives with punk-inflected force, asserting control, power and protection over Indigenous narratives.
A new large-scale sculpture of a bucking horse marks a breakthrough in Halfmoon’s work. Responding to Cyrus Dallin’s “The Scout” (1921) – a monument currently standing in Kansas City’s Penn Valley Park that was intended as an homage but perpetuates stereotypical views of Native peoples – Halfmoon’s horse instead is untethered and unyielding, sitting tall in the saddle at the heart of “Ride or Die.”
Says Halfmoon, “When I was traveling through Kansas City, I was struck by a statue titled ‘The Scout’ by Cyrus E. Dallin. It is a commanding 10-foot sculpture depicting a Native rider atop his horse, looking into the distance. I thought of my ancestors on my father’s side, who are Otoe-Missouri — tribal Nations whose homelands include Missouri, Nebraska, and, going even further back, the Great Lakes region.”
“That rich history was part of what inspired the creation of my exhibition that reflects my experience growing up in Oklahoma, which is part of the North American Great Plains. We also have a rich Western heritage culture in addition to 38 federally recognized tribal nations. My show features powerful Native female riders, a bucking horse, and canine protectors — all entities who I see as ‘Ride or Dies.’”
BOOKS: Women educators
Three Native women – a president, a professor, and a student, come together to share their experiences in a book detailing how Native women find their place in higher education. The contributors include Cheryl Crazy Bull, president and CEO of the American Indian College Fund; Erin Griffin, Sisseton Wahpeton Dakota, South Dakota State University assistant professor; and Natasha Goldtooth, Diné, a student at Diné College. In the book, “Indigenous Voices of Girls and Women in Educational Spaces: Celebrating Presence,” the women share how the roles and experiences of Native women contribute to the tribally controlled college movement and the importance of being rooted in kinship and place with relation to the land.
The book explores the roles women have in this environment as mentors and sister relatives using ancestral teachings; how naming restoration revitalized Native women’s roles; Indigenizing education and social spaces; and how sharing ancestral knowledge using storytelling creates prosperity in Native communities.
Crazy Bull says, “I am proud of Erin and Natasha for sharing their deeply personal experiences with their tribal colleges. As community and family-based institutions, (tribal colleges and universities) provide a sanctuary for students to fully experience themselves, to learn, and to build their knowledge. We are appreciative of this opportunity to share those experiences more broadly through this chapter.”
Erin Griffin adds, “The women in our communities often find themselves in leadership roles, not out of pursuit of title or status, but because we love our families and our people. The opportunity for Native women to share their stories is key to developing communities that support women and the hard work they do; always with a vision for a healthy future built from Dakota wowicohan — our ways of life.”
Natasha Goldtooth says, “Ahe’hee (thank you) to my mentors Cheryl Crazy Bull and Erin Griffin for guiding and helping bring our stories to life and to light. With their support, my story gives a small glimpse of how it’s important not to overlook students like me. The leadership role found us, not that we wanted it. … Our character and commitments reflected our light to those who believed in us then and now. I hope we take small positive strides together, for a better future for the next generations to come and for Native Women in educational spaces.”
TRAVEL: Award winning tourism
ICT’s recent “Native Tourism Guide” features several of the winners at the American Indigenous Tourism Association recipients of the 2025 Excellence in Indigenous Tourism Awards at their 27th Annual American Indigenous Tourism Conference in Choctaw, Miss., on Oct. 29.
The awards celebrated outstanding achievements in Indigenous tourism, recognizing individuals and organizations that contribute to the industry’s astounding $11.6 billion annual economic impact. This year, the awards program introduced new categories, expanding the awards to honor a broader range of achievements across U.S. Indigenous tourism.
“The Excellence in Indigenous Tourism Awards highlight the incredible work being done across our Native Nations and communities,” said Sherry L. Rupert, Paiute and Washoe, CEO of the American Indigenous Tourism Association. “The 2025 winners exemplify the highest standards of Indigenous hospitality, cultural preservation, and innovation in the travel and tourism industry. Each honoree epitomizes the diverse contributions that are shaping the future of Indigenous tourism and creating unforgettable experiences for travelers.”
The 2025 Awardees are:
- Best Cultural Heritage Experience: Indian Pueblo Cultural Center, New Mexico
- Excellence in Customer Service: Choctaw Cultural Center, Oklahoma
- Best Indigenous Culinary Tourism Experience: Wahpepah’s Kitchen, California
- Indigenous Artisan of the Year: Meritza Shumake, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
- Indigenous Futures Award: Tyler Bell, Mississippi Band of Choctaw Indians
- The Industry Professional of the Year Award: Billie Jean Guerrero, director of the Pyramid Lake Museum & Visitor Center, Nevada
- Industry Partner of the Year: Indigenous Tourism Association of Canada
- Indigenous Destination of the Year: Agua Caliente Cultural Plaza, California