Indigenous Peoples’ Day 2024 celebration was held on Powhatan Hill in Richmond, Virginia, just 7 blocks from where I live. Powhatan Hill is considered to be the historical place where Christopher Newport and John Smith first made contact with King Powhatan of the Powhatan confederation, making it the appropriate place to honor the peoples who came before us and are indeed still here.

My family and I attended and got to experience the beauty of the jingle dress dance and spoke with one dancer, Alycia, who is featured on the right in the painting and is a member of the Pamunkey tribe in Virginia, about the meaning of the dance. She shared with us how her dress has 365 cone shaped bells sewn to it and how each bell represented a daily prayer for healing. When the dance is performed, the bells clink together in a sound reminiscent of rain, and it is a worshipful act on behalf of the community for those who may be sick, grieving or in need of healing. It was beautiful to not only experience the dance but get to speak with Alycia who helped educate us so we could truly appreciate it for what it is.

I made this painting to highlight the beauty I see in Virginia Indians and all Native Americans.

Check outPocahontasProject.org to learn more about the significance of Indigenous Peoples’ Day and current efforts.