Blood of Our Ancestors

Original painting 

40x40 inches

For many years I didnt want to paint anything about a sacred cermony of our people. Sundance is one of the ceremonies that is close to my heart. But our sundance Chief William Nevin gave me a go ahead couple years ago. I finally feel comfortable enough to paint it. 

This piece represents the sacred time after the Sundance ceremony, when both women and men come together in prayer. It is a moment of reflection, gratitude, and spiritual connection.

The blood of our ancestors is embedded into the grounds of the ceremony. It lives within the earth itself. If you look closely, you will see drops of blood in the soil, and the faces of our ancestors emerging from the land around the tree. They are not gone — they remain present, watching, guiding, and protecting.

The tree at the center represents life, sacrifice, strength, and connection between the physical and spiritual worlds. The earth surrounding it carries memory. Our ancestors’ blood is not a symbol of loss alone — it is a symbol of survival, resilience, and continuity.

This work honors the sacred ceremony, the unity of women and men in prayer, and the enduring presence of those who came before us.