I am Jalen DeCoteau and I am an enrolled member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indians and have a BFA in Visual Arts from the University of North Dakota.

The artwork I create explores Native American history and culture through intricate and bold ink illustrations, influenced by sequential art used in graphic novels. The work represents historical and ongoing effects of colonization on Native life and culture, emphasizing the resilience and strength of American Indigenous people through their rapidly changing culture.

For centuries, American Indigenous culture has, and still is changing as a direct impact of colonization. This body of work reflects that impact, addressing themes of adaptability, strength, and resilience. This is shown by representing contemporary indigenous life and traditions, and how those have changed or developed throughout post-Colombian America. History and tradition are represented here with depictions of cultural events which highlight how the culture has changed and strengthened, and with satirical interpretations of popular media which offer both celebration and critique of Indigenous history and culture.