United Art Gallery

Artist: Nayana LaFond

Country: United States

Weblink: nayanaarts.com

Description: Red is the only color in the painting because it is believed that the color red is the only color spirits can see. This would be the way the murdered would see her. The red is to call our indigenous sisters home so that their souls may rest. 20"x26" acrylic on canvas

Stacey Sayer-Braban, Little Black Bear First Nation,Treaty 4 Territory in Saskatchewan. This painting is part of a series of paintings to raise awareness for the MMIWG Movement. The missing and murdered Indigenous women (MMIW) epidemic currently affects Indigenous peoples in Canada and the United States, including the First Nations, Inuit, Métis (FNIM), and Native American communities. It has been described as a Canadian national crisis and a Canadian genocide. A corresponding mass movement in the U.S. and Canada works to raise awareness of missing and murdered Indigenous women and girls (MMIWG) through organized marches, community meetings, the building of databases, local city council meetings, tribal council meetings and domestic violence trainings for police This piece is a collaboration with photographer Wayne Slinn and Indigenous make up artist JJ Vester Penny to help bring awareness to this critical issue of MMIWG. "The honour of the people lies in the moccasin tracks of the woman. Walk the good road... Be dutiful, respectful, gentle, and modest my daughter... Be strong with the warm, strong heart of the earth. Be strong with the warm, strong heart of the Earth. No people goes down until their women are weak and dishonored, or dead upon the ground. Be strong and sing the strength of the Great Powers within you, all around you." -Sioux Elder