The Rappahannock Peoples: An Analysis of Modern Tribal History and Social Issues
October 24, 2024
On Native Ground
Start time: 4:00 p.m.
End time: 5:30 p.m.
Location: Valentine House Room 201 (920 W Franklin St)
Description
Join us for an afternoon of Native Virginia history, art and poetry with Sequoyah Fortune, Rappahannock artist and writer, and Karenne Wood Native Artist-in-Residence at the HRC.
In this talk, Sequoyah Fortune will recount family histories that were passed down by his late grandmother and other tribal elders, and provide an analysis of modern Rappahannock history from 1920 to the present. The discussion will uncover narratives that highlight the devastation of a segregated Virginia, the paper genocide of Walter Plecker, and the continued perpetuation of disenfranchisement through racial motivated biases.
About the Speaker
Sequoyah Fortune is a Rappahannock multimedia artist and writer, who seamlessly blends tradition with progressive modernism. Their art mirrors the complexities of multicultural identity, exploring dichotomies such as light and dark, life and death, and what is versus what could be. Inspired by traditional cultural expression, the natural world, and modern artists, Sequoyah has been involved in various artistic and cultural activities from a young age. Pottery lessons from his grandmother, dancing and drumming lessons from uncles and father, sketching lessons from their mother, and beadwork from sister and aunt—all these experiences shaped their artistic journey. As Sequoyah honed his skills across diverse media, he learned from instructors like hyperrealists Norberto Ramirez and Nigel Robertson from Fresno California. Sequoyah’s focus is to demystify art, encouraging everyone to see everyday items and activities as creative expressions. Conversations, community building, and intentional living are also forms of art for them, serving collaborative narratives, preserving history, and helping individuals understand their place in the larger world.