Listening to Inyan: Rachel Berg

Presented by:

Listening to Inyan, as part of the “LandSignals Project” centers the Teton Mountain Range of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and indigenous perspectives on ecological stewardship. The collection of sculptural and photographic cyanotype work from Mnicoujou artist Rachel Olivia Berg portrays a story of creation from the Octeti Sakowin (The Seven Council Fires). Inyan (Stone), a compassionate and powerful being, made Ina Maka (Mother Earth), Wi (Sun) to keep her warm. Finally he used his own blood to make Mni (Water). Without his blood he became hard and could not move. Inyan could no longer speak and he became embedded in Ina Maka. Inyan is the oldest and wisest of our ancestors. It is said that he still listens.

The body of work represents hundreds species of beings that live within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem focusing on the Snake River as the essential life force of the locale. Berg calls upon Lakota symbols, stone, and the sacred color blue to reinforce the knowledge within indigenous communities that all living beings are connected and that parts of nature like stone, water, sun, and moon are understood to be living.

The exhibition remembers Inyan and presents his story as a reminder to humankind that we are living members of a universal ecosystem that must be cared for to sustain life for ourselves and all the beings connected to us.

Listening to Inyan is the launch of Jackson Hole Public Art’s LandSignals project with support provided by The Center for this on site installation by Rachel Berg.