10x50 feet

commissioned by Jackson Hole Public Arts

in collaboration with Lynette St Clair, indigenous education consultant with Eastern Shoshone Nation

Jackson Hole, Wyoming

This mural serves as a conceptual billboard, reclaiming space for the Shoshone people, whose ancestors called this region home. By incorporating Shoshone language, the mural connects the land, culture, and people, emphasizing their deep-rooted relationship. This public display is a powerful act of language preservation for the Eastern Shoshone community.

The number of Eastern Shoshone language speakers continues to decrease dramatically. This mural illuminates the challenges of developing a written language for people who have historically relied on oral traditions. It acknowledges the colonial violence of forced English language learning and the delicate balance of working with community members to create a space for meaningful dialogue about language preservation. As the Eastern Shoshone community faces a critical juncture in its linguistic history, this mural serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of honoring and revitalizing its ancestral language.