Itówapi on Paper

• Location: St. Joseph's Indian School Chamberlain, SD 57325 (View on Google Maps)
• Start Date: August 1, 2025
• End Date: January 30, 2026

You’re invited to the opening of a new exhibition at the Aktá Lakota Museum: Itówapi on Paper. “Itówapi” translates to picture, portrait, drawing, painting, or photograph in the Lakota language.

Historically, paper has served as a canvas for preserving culture, documenting history, and spiritual beliefs. Contemporary artists continue to explore this medium, using it to challenge stereotypes and convey messages about identity, resilience and cultural continuity.

The exhibition presents a rich collection of American Indian artworks on paper, showcasing both historic and contemporary pieces that highlight the evolution of artistic expression within Indigenous communities. The artworks, ranging from traditional storytelling to modern interpretations and social commentary, underscore the deep significance of paper as a medium.

Visitors will engage in the layered narratives presented in each piece, appreciating how paper transcends its physical form to become vital link between past and present, tradition and innovation. This exhibition invites viewers to reflect on the power of paper as a medium for communication, connection and cultural storytelling.

Email: aktalakota@stjo.org

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