Kalen Goodluck

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith, a contemporary artist and citizen of the Confederated Salish and Kootenai Tribes of the Flathead Nation, sits in her studio in Corrales, New Mexico studio on Sunday, October 10, 2021.

Easels, blank canvases and finished works line the walls Smith’s studio in Corrales, New Mexico. A palette of oil paint here has sat for a couple days, still ready to be used. “If you weren’t here photographing this morning, I’d be touching up these paintings,” she told me.

A painted collage piece reading “Climate Change is giving us Smoke Signals” is among a series of works by Smith exploring US geography and colonialism.

Two painted collage pieces reading “NDN humor causes people to survive” and “Turtle Island” are among a series of works by Smith exploring Indigenous culture, US geography and colonialism. humor causes people to survive” and “Turtle Island” are among a series of works by Smith exploring Indigenous culture, US geography and colonialism.

A palette of oil paint here has sat for a couple days, still ready to be used. “If you weren’t here photographing this morning, I’d be touching up these paintings,” she told me.

Jaune Quick-To-See Smith had made a series of paper, paint and charcoal pieces on infamous U.S. cavalry officer George Armstrong Custer, who waged genocidal warfare on Indigenous plains tribes beginning in the late 1860’s.

Four smaller, multi-color beaded map pieces read from left to right: “She, Her, Hers,” “Amerika,” “Stolen,” and “$.” They are among a series of map pieces by Smith exploring Indigenous culture, US geography and colonialism.