My interest in Native American history, culture and especially material
culture began during my youth. I was an active member of the Boy
Scouts of America and The Order of the Arrow, an affiliate of the Boy
Scouts. I worked at the local scout camp teaching various craftworking
merit badges. A friend of mine at the time and to this day, Tom McClain,
began a dance team for our local O.A. lodge. I joined and quickly learned
from him the basics of dancing and how to begin working on my first
dance outfit as a traditional dancer. Well, a dance outfit is a funny thing
really. It's never quite finished, so I've just kept on working on things
over the past fifteen years and loved every minute of it.
While attending Juniata College I co-founded the Native American
Hobbyist Club to provide those students with an interest in American
Indian culture an avenue of discovery. We met often to learn things
together as well as providing opportunities to teach others around the
campus and community about Native history and culture.
In 1998 I moved to Mission, South Dakota, the heart of the Rosebud
Reservation, to teach science at the Todd County High School and to
continue my education in Lakota life and culture. I spent six years on the
Rosebud living, learning and loving life. I not only learned a great deal
and improved my skills as a craftsman but I also spent my last year at
T.C.H.S. co-teaching the Traditional Lakota Arts class with colleague
Chris Leneaugh. The course was based on a curriculum I had written the
year before as I had discovered a need for students to learn some of the
traditional aspects of the material culture. Our course focused on the
methods and materials of artifacts from 1880-1920. During this time I
was creating more things than ever before and took some of my own
work to a whole new level in order to show the students some new
possibilities for their work.
My focus and intent is to create the most authentic articles possible by
thoroughly researching the exact methods and materials used by Native
Peoples a century ago and following their example. Much of what I do
uses original materials such as braintan deer, elk, antelope and buffalo;
elk and buffalo rawhide; sewing with real sinew; vintage beads
incorporated in traditional techniques and designs.
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