Creative Resilience: Dialogues Between Indigenous and Earth-Centered Art Practitioners
Publication information:
Abstract
Panel Talk: This roundtable discussion explores Indigenous and earth-centered understandings of creative expression as a spiritual and healing practice. Moving beyond modern notions of art as objects for appreciation, participants will share practices rooted in connection, harmony, and resilience. Speakers will bring our stories, breathe work, songs, visual arts, dance, and yogic art traditions and share how creativity fosters healing, community, and balance with nature. The dialogue will highlight the restorative power of presence and Indigenous wisdom, offering tools for integrating serenity and artistry into daily life. This gathering aims to inspire reimagined art practices as transformative, liberatory acts of unity and well-being fostered in the Indigenous Traditions Talking Circle working group.
Presenter Biography
Sneha Rao is a graduate student in the Hindu Studies Program at the Hindu University of America. With a background in engineering, she brings both an intuitive and analytical approach to her studies, exploring the philosophical and cultural traditions of Sanatana Dharma. Beyond academics, Sneha is a committed practitioner of Yoga and an earnest student of Carnatic music, both of which deepen her connection to Hindu culture's spiritual and artistic dimensions. Her goal is to bring new understandings of spirituality from a Hindu perspective, fostering cross-cultural dialogue and insight into the relevance of these traditions in contemporary life.
Delores Mondragón is a student of Native American and Indigenous Religious Traditions, with an emphasis on rematriation, rites of passage, ceremony, militarism, Two-Spirit ways of being, and QWOC Chicana/o/x histories.
Sara Gepp is a yoga teacher, sound healer, intuitive guide, and equine therapy specialist with over 20 years of experience. Her compassionate approach blends yoga, sound healing, and equine therapy to foster personal growth and healing. Sara creates nurturing spaces for self-discovery, helping individuals connect with their inner strength and harmony.
Izzy Mondragón is a two-spirit Chickasaw/Purépecha/Xicanx artist currently majoring in Studio Arts for their BFA and attending the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA) in Santa Fe, New Mexico.
Sinai Soriano is an Indigenous youth organizer, land defender, and culture bearer dedicated to community healing and justice. A graduate student in Native American Studies at Montana State University, her work emphasizes ancestral knowledge, prison abolition, and education equity. Sinai’s activism extends to frontline movements like the fight against Cop City and beyond.
Cindy Morales is a museum freelancer and contractor with experience in collections management, outreach, and repatriation. She has worked with tribal museums, the National Museum of Natural History, and other educational institutions, specializing in repatriation and documentation. Passionate about preserving history and returning items to descendant communities, she plans to pursue graduate studies in fall 2025.