Black Hills Artist Feature: Tradition & Ancestral Legacy through Symbolism and Dance

The Black Hills has been inhabited by Native Americans for almost 10,000 years.

Connecting with tradition and history, Jim Yellowhawk dives into the roots of his ancestral legacy through symbolism and dance.

Brought up with traditional grandparents, Yellowhawk was well-versed in the ways of his people. That didn't always mean he got to practice them. "I grew up with the Christian ways," Jim starts. "Tradition, ceremonies, etc. weren't allowed, so I never even really thought about it (Lakota tradition) until later." Recognizing his interest and passion for the history and culture of the Native people, Jim often found a way to learn more about his ancestry and invest in an education of these traditions and ceremonies.

"Inspired by the elders, I gravitated toward the drums during dance ceremonies. I was drawn to it, the traditional ways," Jim says. Years later when he was around 30 years old, he decided he would pursue dance despite his teachings that the tradition was "taboo" growing up.

According to Jim, dance offers a sense of tranquility and healing.

Dances have always been significant in the lives of Native Americans as both a common amusement and a solemn duty. Many dances played a vital role in religious rituals and other ceremonies; while others were held to guarantee the success of hunts, harvests, giving thanks, and other celebrations. -Legends of America

In addition to dance, Jim is a successful artist. It has always been a dream for him to live as an artist. Starting out as a commercial artist, Jim can say he has lived out his dream in present day. It took time, patience and a lot of hard work and dedication for him to get to where he is. Today, one of his pieces may sell for more than $2,000, and he has a large following of collectors.

Every piece of his artwork has a lot of symbolism which is very important. To the naked eye, you may not understand or know the importance behind each piece, but it's there. Off the bat, most of Jim's work involves ledger paper and mixed media. "Before, buffalo hides were used to record history, and as time passed old ledger paper was used with pencil and ink," Jim explains. This material was a common canvas for Lakota artists early on.

Fun fact: There is a publisher in Italy that Yellowhawk is working with right now to create a book about his artwork. He has to choose 100 pieces from hundreds of completed works. If you were collecting images from your artwork for a book, do you know which ones you would choose? The book is finished and was launched in early September of 2020 in both Italian and English translations.

Right now, Yellowhawk has a combined exhibit on display at The Indian Museum of North America at Crazy Horse Memorial in Custer, SD. Watch a clip to hear directly from Jim at the museum.

The exhibition revolves around his grandfathers Hehaka-pa (Elk Head) and Cetangi (Yellowhawk) and contains more than 40 works from Jim, his son, cousins, and father.

Sitting down with Jim, he explained just a few of his pieces - most of which contain ancestral meaning. Jim says with a smile, "It just comes natural; it's very important to me." Paying close attention to his work, you'll notice there is a common theme of black, red, and yellow. Each of the colors are usually seen on a medicine wheel. Yellowhawk shares, "Red is the north, the buffalo nation. Go to the east, yellow, or elk nation. White is the south, and represents the geese. Black is horse, or west." Together the symbol and colors represent all people, all nations.

Jim's regalia for his dance performances follow this symbolism and coloring. As an international, traditional dancer, he has performed in Switzerland, New Zealand, Italy, Germany, and Canada. He has also presented locally all over the nation. "I don't really follow the Pow-Wow circuit, it's more individualized; I like to exchange cultures," Jim adds.

When asked about a piece he was most proud of, Jim sat back and thought for a minute. It's hard to select one piece from years of work. Below is a piece that was commissioned and themed for the anniversary of the 1868 Fort Laramie Treaty. According to the Smithsonian, "In the end, 156 Sioux and 25 Arapaho men signed, alongside seven U.S. commissioners and more than 30 witnesses and interpreters." Two of those signers were Jim's ancestors - Elk Head and Yellowhawk. This beautiful piece is a great example of how he uses the traditional symbolism and mixed media to tell a distinct story. "All the tee-pees represent the people, the blue and red represent the common people, the peace pipes my ancestors hold show that we came in peace," Jim explained pieces of the symbolism. In the background is a copy of the original treaty.

Art During COVID-19

Like many artists, Jim was been able to use his time early on during the pandemic to continue working on art and draw inspiration from the chaos around him. Shortly after returning from an art exhibit in New Zealand, the virus hit the U.S. hard. "I went in quarantine for 14 days," Jim says. "During that time I produced four pieces (three of which can be seen below).

He continues, "The first piece I did was titled 'Tiyatani Yankapo (Stay at Home)' and was accepted into an international exhibition." Out of more than 5,000 entries world-wide, the image that can be seen on the left was one of 12 selected to be in the online exhibition. The piece has already sold to a collector as well.

To the left, a print copy of Yellowhawk piece sits on a table. In this copy, Jim has been collecting signatures. "We are all in [COVID-19] together; that's why I am having people sign this piece," he says.

Side note: This is the first time I have signed my married name!

Artist Advice

"Stay with your dream." It's easy to get discouraged, and it's hard to stick to your dreams, but it is worth it. Jim's simple advice is sure to resonate with artists in the future.

Visit his website www.jimyellowhawk.com/ to learn more about him and his current work. All copyrights on images pertaining Jim Yellowhawk's artwork belong to the artist. The opening image of Jim in his regalia was provided by the artist. All other images were taken by Finer Details Artistry.