This exhibit emerged out of your research and teaching on Native American comics and graphic novels, including your cultural anthropology course, also titled “American Indians Go Graphic.”  Why is it important to study these works? What can they teach us about Indigenous history, culture and contemporary life?

The works in this exhibit share American Indian perspectives on these topics in a way that is widely accessible by weaving together storytelling and art illustrations. Because of this, readers get a more immersive experience and a broader exposure to a range of American Indian artists and perspectives than books alone. Ultimately, American Indian, Alaskan Native Corporations, and Kanaka Maoli (Native Hawaiian) history, culture and contemporary life teach readers different ways of being in all of our worlds. It also gives readers a more comprehensive education about our own understanding of modern American culture.

Can you talk about some of the ways that comics and graphic novels can help promote dialogue between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people about critical issues that American Indians are facing today?

One of the most important elements of comic books is that they inherently humanize American Indian peoples. This is incredibly important because American Indians are often portrayed only in the past, as if we are not active players in today’s society. Bridging this gap greatly increases the discussions we can have about American Indian lives and impacts on society, from economics to community responsibility. These comic books and graphic novels can be fun and light-hearted or very dark, but all of them reveal elements of issues that Indigenous peoples in the U.S. face. These issues range from the highest national rates of missing and murdered women and community members to environmental pollution impacts —and even the challenges of holding a powwow during a pandemic lockdown. 

Two years ago, you launched — and also directed — the first research program at Duke to focus on Indigenous peoples in the United States. It aims to raise the visibility of Indigenous communities on campus, support Native American studies and research, and foster connections with Indigenous communities across the country. What has the response been like among students who are interested in Indigenous history and culture, and why do you think Duke is a good place to learn about it?

The response has been, frankly, overwhelmingly positive. Many students are now surprised that Duke did not have these educational offerings available before, from classes to events to exhibits like this. The increasing visibility has increased Duke’s educational footprint, providing students with knowledge that they were not exposed to previously, as well as ways of thinking about their worlds that were not available before now. Duke has begun the process of gaining parity with its peer universities in its course offerings, but in many ways, it is already surpassing other institutes in visibility and exposure for a sizable portion of its students. 

If you had to choose, what’s one of your favorite items on display in the exhibit, and why?

That is a very tough question, because, of course, I love all of the works that I chose for this exhibit. The one that touches my heart is the display for Jeffrey Vergge (Port Gamble Band of S’Klallam Indians citizen), who passed just a year and a half ago at a young age from lupus. His style is the most widely identifiable and distributed due to the work he did for Marvel covers. “Super Indian” (Arigon Starr, Kickapoo Tribe of Oklahoma citizen) was my first exposure to an American Indian created comic, so that is special to me as well. 

What do you hope visitors will take away from the exhibit?

First is that Indigenous people in the U.S. continue to thrive today and have definitive and measurable impacts on the world. In these works, visitors get a glimpse into the modern lives of American Indians, from creating podcasts to leading scientific research projects to dealing with the trials of being a high school student. Second, I encourage visitors to think about what makes an American Indian superhero similar to and different from non-Indigenous conceptions of superheroes, and what a superhero does, and for whom. Finally, I would like visitors to experience American Indian humor, which is a significant part of American Indian life. American Indians are often portrayed as very stoic, but the humor we carry with us is a foundational part of how we move through this world. 

In November — which is also Native American Heritage Month — Duke will host a Native American comics convention, known as IndigiPopX. What can you tell us about that event, and what should people expect if they’re interested in going?

I am thrilled that we can bring a mini-version of this con to Duke’s campus for the public to enjoy! For visitors who are unfamiliar with cons, there will be Indigenous celebrities, chefs, filmmakers, comic artists, game developers, fashion designers and performers from across Turtle Island. You will also be able to experience film screenings, live performances, cosplay contests, video game play, an artist alley, panel discussions, and youth-centered creative labs, all focused on bringing unique Indigenous art and perspectives to the Duke campus.

Check out the exhibit online:
https://exhibits.library.duke.edu/exhibits/show/americanindiansgographic/intro