Description
"Kill the Indian, save the man." This philosophy fueled the forced assimilation of Indigenous children, severing them from their families, languages, and traditions. The cutting of the proverbial roots was meant to nourish future generations.This painting captures that severance. The braid—more than just hair—is a connection to ancestry. The braid transforms into roots, a reminder that culture is something living, something meant to grow and be passed down. Watching over this moment of forced transformation are the spectral figures of ancestors—witnesses to a history of erasure yet ever-present, refusing to be forgotten.
Materials
Acrylic on canvas.
Jeremy Thompson
Seminole Nation of Oklahoma
About the Artist
Jeremy Scott Thompson is an award-winning artist from Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is a Seminole Nation of Oklahoma member from his father’s side and has Japanese ancestry from his mother’s side. Thompson is a local artist working in various mediums, with his main focus being shoes, or “sneaker art”. Since 2006, he has been painting one-of-a-kind designs on a variety of shoes and sneakers. He takes inspiration from pop culture as well as Indigenous art, culture, and history. Along with his brother Chris, he created the business, Semurai Designs, born from their love for art and sneakers. The name “Semurai” combines the words “Seminole” and “Samurai”, which represents a collaboration of their culture and ethnicity. Jeremy currently resides in Tulsa with his wife, Asa Thompson.
