Tune in Wednesday, Sept. 22, at 1-2 p.m. (CDT) for a live digital artist talk with Sicangu Lakota performer, speaker and writer Frank Waln. This one-of-a-kind performance will connect us all to our past, present and future as Frank Waln explores connections of Indigenous history in the U.S. and issues currently affecting Native American communities and non-Native communities living on colonized Indigenous land. Rooted in the Lakota tradition of storytelling, Frank will share songs and stories about his upbringing and education on the Rosebud Indian Reservation in South Dakota and his experiences living in the South Side of Chicago.
Register for Frank’s digital artist talk: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cARYvR-mRKCNG-z6kUv6Pg
As an Indigenous music producer and audio engineer, Frank fuses traditional Lakota instruments with hip-hop and electronic music to create songs that shed light on Indigenous history and decolonization. “I’m looking forward to sharing music and the stories of my ancestors, my community, my resistance and our history,” Frank said. “This online performance will not only educate and raise awareness, it will radically change the way people view themselves and the land they live on, Native and non-Native alike.” Frank is a Gates Millennium Scholar and earned a bachelor’s degree in audio arts and acoustics from Columbia College Chicago. Frank’s work has been recognized with many industry awards. He has received three Native American Music Awards, the 2014 NCAIED Native American 40 Under 40 Award and the Columbia College Chicago’s 2014 Mayor’s Award for Civic Engagement. He has written for numerous publications, including: The Guardian, School Library Journal and Indian Country Today. Frank was a contributing author to “American Like Me,” a New York Times Best Seller by America Ferrera. He is currently working on a new Native flute album.
Find more of his work on Instagram and Twitter at handle @FrankWaln and on his website at frankwaln.com.
Travois is a Certified B Corporation focused exclusively on promoting affordable housing and economic development in Native communities. Since 2017, Travois has opened its Kansas City, Missouri, office to host Indigenous artists as part of the city’s art events. Our mission is to support and promote American Indian, Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian artists. Our vision is to see Indigenous artists more prominently featured and powerfully supported in metropolitan Kansas City and beyond. Due to the coronavirus pandemic, Travois has transitioned to hosting digital artist talks. The digital format provides an opportunity for audience participation outside of Kansas City.
For updates on future Travois art exhibition events and previous featured artists can be found at travois.com/news-events/art-exhibition-series.