Local Indigenous artist Marlena Myles unveiled her new mural, “Flowing Currents: The River Fish and the News Narrative,” at Minnesota Public Radio’s St. Paul headquarters last week. The unveiling kicked off a summertime tour, during which the mural will travel around the state to arts events.
According to an MPR news release, the mural “evokes the elemental and critical nature of rivers and river fish in Minnesota and correlates that with the elemental and critical nature of local news.” The mural is funded by the Minnesota Arts and Heritage Fund.
The MSR sat down with Myles during the May 13 afternoon event at MPR’s Kling Public Media Center.
Myles, who grew up in South Minneapolis and now lives in St. Paul, is a self-taught Native American multimedia artist, author, and teacher who uses her artwork as a form of activism to support her culture.
“I grew up at Little Earth, a Native urban community,” said the soft-spoken yet confident Myles. “All my friends growing up are Native, Black, or Asian. I didn’t have a white friend until I was actually in eighth grade.”
Myles also spent time at her mother’s birthplace on a North Dakota reservation and attended an Indigenous magnet school in the Cities. These trips and her schooling helped Myles quickly develop her appreciation of the culture and history of the Dakota people. She is a member of the Spirit Lake Dakota tribe.
“When I go back to the reservation,” said Myles, “I can see the elders teaching the young people the new songs, dances and this endless cycle of our culture being passed on.
“You can’t just focus on your own tribe,” continued Myles. “Sometimes you have to learn about others. I think it just helped me really hone in on what being Dakota and being able to see the urban perspective as well as the world perspective.”
Despite the current political efforts around the country to eliminate history, especially that of people of color, and shape it in a certain way, Myles remains steadfast in teaching her people’s history.
“I think a lot of people of color, our histories [have been] erased, and so it’s up to us to learn our actual history and speak up and share those histories,” said Myles, who added that the past cannot and should not be ignored.
“All those horrible events happen, but while that was happening—men, women, children, elders, they were finding ways to survive,” she pointed out. “When I talk about Dakota history, a lot of people want to [only] talk about the Dakota War. Well, we’ve had thousands of years of our culture before that, and that was this tiny bit of history, and then we will have thousands of years of culture after that.
“I think a lot of people, my generation, they want to make sure that the intergenerational trauma stops with them and that they are passing on the positive attributes of our culture. My friends are changing their habits and are eating Indigenous foods.
“Now they are learning about the sacred places here in the Twin Cities,” said Myles. “Now, as an adult, I’m able to see the positives of my culture.
“Dakota culture should be seen everywhere,” Myles stressed.
Myles earlier told MPR, “Just as the health of river ecosystems relies on the vitality of its fish populations, the health of our society depends on the integrity and effectiveness of our news media. Through their dedication to uncovering truth, amplifying diverse voices, and holding power to account, journalists fulfill a critical public service, enriching the fabric of our collective consciousness.
“In the currents of Minnesota’s rivers, we find a reflection of the dynamic nature of storytelling and the essential role of journalism in our society. As we journey through these waters, may we recognize the interconnectedness of all life forms and the profound significance of each story told. For in the depths of these narratives lie the seeds of understanding, empathy, and progress, guiding us toward a more informed and enlightened future.”
Myles’ mural also includes an augmented reality component in which the fish swim, and words and phrases make their way across the water like a flowing river.
“We don’t have just one way of telling a history—we’re all amateur historian[s],” said Myles. “So, we all have our way of telling this history.
“That’s what I hope every person sees how Native people are overcoming our past and see that it is possible for them to heal,” said Myles.
Myles’ “Flowing Currents” mural will be at various art events throughout Greater Minnesota this summer, including the Stone Arch Bridge Festival at Mill City Farmers Market and Museum in Minneapolis from June 15 to 16 and RiverArts at Viking Ship Park in Morehead on June 25.
Myles said that she likes that more people are finally recognizing Dakota people and Dakota land regularly. “I think it’s a positive because it’s acknowledging our history,” she said. “You know, when you say, ‘I’m from Minnesota,’ you’re speaking Dakota. We’re all humans. We’re all supposedly indigenous to this planet. But I think indigenous means having a relationship with that land and not just seeing it as a resource.
“I feel like we need to all re-indigenize ourselves and build that relationship,” said Myles. “So, I think acknowledging Native people is a step toward saying the land is relative.”