First American Art Magazine No. 7, Summer 2015 | Page 8

Editor’s Greetings

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215 S. Muskogee Ave.,
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E LOST A GOOD FRIEND and supporter
of the magazine this spring: Jeri Ah-Be-Hill, a
strong advocate of Native arts and cultures. Jeri
hosted our last launch party at her home and
always attended our New Mexican events. There will never be
another Jeri Ah-Be-Hill, but we can take inspiration from her
life. She knew exactly who she was and was proud of her tribal
identity. Jeri wore Kiowa clothing every day, not just for special
or ceremonial occasions. She patiently educated curious people
about the meanings behind tribal clothing and other art. Santa
Fe can be a sleepy town, but Jeri brought it to life. When she
arrived, the party started. Her two brilliant daughters, Teri
Greeves and Keri Ataumbi, helped make this issue happen. Jeri
was the first to let me know what a skilled writer Teri is.

Every issue of First American Art Magazine challenges
preconceived notions about Native art and who Native people
are today. Featured in this issue, Walking With Our Sisters is
a powerful event that is far more than an art exhibit—it’s a
healing ceremony turning loss and heartbreak into action.
Although it originated in Canada, the kidnapping and murder
of Indigenous women is an urgent problem in the United States
and other countries. The Solar Map Project is a grassroots effort
to document precontact petroglyphs and to share the insights
of the Pai Tavytera people of eastern Paraguay with the world.
Sometimes the scientific community needs a reminder that
Indigenous people have studied our own histories and artistic
expressions far longer than anyone else. Tribal Canoe Journeys
is an intertribal Northwest Coast celebration that has grown so
large that there will not be just one journey this year. To keep
the spirit alive, several tribes will host smaller journeys this
summer. The pottery of Catawba people reminds us that some
southeast tribes in the United States were never removed. The
Catawba still live in their ancestral homelands and continue
their longstanding artistic traditions today.
While Keri Ataumbi (Kiowa-Comanche) has a wide range
of talents, our interview focuses on her work with ethically
sourced, precious metals and gemstones. Nilda Callañaupa
Alvarez (Quechua) is our first weaver and first artist from South
America to be profiled. A talented artist in her own right,
Nilda’s legacy is the work she has done for the Quechua weavers
of Peru. Nicholas Galanin (Tlingit-Unangax) is a rapidly rising
star, currently at his opening in New York as I type this.