Diane Schenandoah

Digging the clay offers the connection to our earth as do the collecting of bones where life was once active. It comes to life again in a different form. The stone is another measure of life that has been built upon for centuries, so each medium offers a varying degree of exciting elements. Whether it be, Buffalo, Caribou, Deer, or Moose antler or bone, each has a unique shape and story to tell. Ancient stone and shell such as soapstone, marble, alabaster or Pipestone, wampum, mother of pearl, or abalone reveal images from times past. I have dedicated the rest of my life to preserving what little culture and identity we have left. As Faithkeeper, a mother of five, a citizen of the Haudenosaunee -Iroquois Confederacy, it is my responsibility to give to my community all the support, love and gift of art I have been given, so they may take it with them and pass it on to the coming generations.

“Diane is ancestrally inspired as she brings up from the earth beautiful images which speak loudly of our culture. Her work concentrates on women, who are the backbone of our nation, on the elders, who continue to teach us of our past and present and of children, who are our future. Her lifelike images show our people singing, dancing, praying, laughing, grieving, and celebrating life. She sees these portrayals as another way of giving back our culture to our community. These works are both inspirational and educational.” – Elizabeth Obomsawin, Nominator