NYAC/MCAD
Native Youth Arts Collective
Placement #3: Shadowing with Native Youth Arts Collective.
Location: MCAD, March 6th 4:00-6pm
We arrived on campus and enjoyed a meal together from 4-430pm. Then we met Genevieve’s Art in Community class in the College Center and we all gathered in a circle and introduced ourselves, our pronouns and what we medium we work in. At first some of the youth were a bit nervous but they did a great job introducing themselves! Genevieve asked us all to write down an answer to the question “Where Are We?” and mentioned that there is no right or wrong answer! We shared what that means to us while mentioning that we are on Dakota Land an how some people might now always acknowledge that history. Some other answers ranged from “At MCAD”, “I’m still searching”, “Where my family is” or “Earth”. Shortly after we made small groups filled with both MCAD and NYAC students and wrote down other words that could mean place, again no right or wrong answer! Then we drew a map of the places around where we physically are. It was cool to see the creations of the maps with other groups! Some you can clearly see their artistic style and design in some and others you can see the location acknowledgements that are important to them. At 5:30pm we had Adam Khalil, Native filmmaker from NY come and talk about his work and vision. The class seemed to respond and appreciate his unique vision as a native artist.
When group was done I checked in with my younger brother who is also apart of these sessions because he seemed very out of his comfort zone during group. He mentioned that he was very nervous because there were so many talented older college students and how it took a lot of courage for him to speak so publicly. He also mentioned that he appreciates me staying close to him during group for support but he also appreciates how cool and laid back Joe, Heidi and Genevieve were. He went on saying that this session was the first time that he stated his pronouns to so many people (besides with family/close friends) and how he almost choose not too. My teenage brother, who is Two Spirit (Transgender) and I talk about the importance of pronouns and he has thought me a lot on top of attending MCAD. I’m glad he felt empowered by that experience! I also came to realize that I was a lot more outgoing and goofy because on this day there was so much more representation and conversations that involved or was even lead by native people. I just thought it was really touching to see this continued support that a lot of instructors have shown since I’ve came to MCAD and the changes that these youth are creating by being in spaces like this!
Guest speaker
Check out NYAC on social media for more images on this collaboration and past projects they worked on!