There will also be works of non-Indigenous artists that exemplify the influence of Native art on American art as a whole. Then, the exhibit transitions to ceremony, where the works portray Native American ceremony rituals. 

Wright said that the various curators involved were very thoughtful in crafting the intimate narratives with color and symbolism.

“Then there’s another section called self identity and it is thinking about the way Native peoples in America in particular have tried to advocate for self rule and the struggles and also the pride that so many artists take in their tribal affiliations and tribal culture,” she said.

The Ackland is presenting various collaborative discussions, artist conversations, guided tours, film screenings and art classes inspired by the exhibit throughout its duration, beginning on Feb. 16 with a guided tour from Nisbet.

On Feb. 25, Ryan Dial, the American Indian health project manager at UNC’s American Indian Center and member of the Lumbee Tribe will lead the “F.A.M. Fun in the Galleries: Exploring ‘Past Forward'” event. 

Dial, who has partnered with the Ackland before, said he has spent most of his life practicing Native American art by dancing and playing the flute.

“I think there is a way for museums, like the Ackland and others, to kind of use their platform to break the stereotypes,” he said.

Dial said he hopes to promote the exhibit in a family friendly way and break preconceived ideas about what Indigenous art is through showing its full spectrum, including contemporary works by Native American artists. He said that the arts are very important to Native American culture on both an individual and a tribal level.

“I think one of our focuses for programming for Past Forward has been to make sure that we’re including community voices, and there’s so many great folks on campus, in the area, and other departments who have expertise in Native American art and culture,” Allison Portnow Lathrop, the Ackland’s head of public programming, said.

These events are meant to allow onlookers a moment to slow down and absorb the exhibit. Portnow Lathrop said they encourage audiences to ask questions about the pieces’ meanings and find connections between themselves and the art. 

Nisbet said he believes the blend of art, discussions and events will give people a better understanding of the broad variety of Native American art over hundreds of years.

“I’m hoping that people’s responses will range from enthusiasm and engagement with individual works to a much better sense of the variety and complexity and a much greater sensitivity to Native American creativity as it relates to North Carolina,” Nisbet said.

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