This generation has been exposed to negative images of Native American people in the media and in general – and not much has been available in mass media to undermine such stereotypes, but Bunky Echo-Hawk is coming to Sacramento State to do just that.

“(There are) stereotypes where our people are one-dimensional and it has an effect on the mainstream culture in America that adds to the lack of education about our culture,” Echo-Hawk said.

Echo-Hawk, a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, is a contemporary artist who uses a broad array of mediums in his artwork. Echo-Hawk is a Native American “proactive artist,” meaning he uses his art to create a dialogue and raise awareness about an issue. He also supports non-profit organizations involved in helping developmentally disabled community members and juvenile justice leagues.

He is a fine artist, graphic designer, photographer, painter, writer and traditional singer and dancer from the Pawnee and Yakama tribes of Oklahoma. Recently, he signed a contract with Nike to design shoes for Nike’s N7 line to promote healthy lifestyles within the Native American community. The shoes are designed with tribal symbols and colors in mind and Nike’s website says “the step pattern represents different stages in life and is prevalent in many southwestern tribal arts.”

“I use my art for social commentary but also as a means to not only convey ideas to confront stereotypes, but also as an educational tool,” Echo-Hawk said.

Echo-Hawk’s goal is to educate his audience on Native American culture by converting old stereotypes created by the mass media into a more positive perspective. Echo-Hawk sometimes uses the media in his work as a vehicle to deliver his messages.

“For example, I used images of Yoda from Star Wars and I converted him to a Native (wearing) a war bonnet and at first people will laugh, as it is an amusing image, but it forces the viewer to consider Natives as the good guy for a change. In movies, Natives are usually the bad guys. This country accepts Indians were the bad guys. By making them heroes, it reverses the effect,” Echo-Hawk said.

The Media Awareness Network of Canada website has observed the negative portrayals of Natives in the media, displaying Natives as “the wise elder, the aggressive drunk, the Indian princess, the loyal sidekick, obese and impoverished.” Echo-Hawk feels that these stereotypes are damaging to Native people because of their insulting and outdated nature.

“I think (media) has a profound effect (on Native American culture). There is a lack of representation of Native American culture and when there is a representation, it is misrepresented. For our Native youth, it is sad we don’t have positive role models. We don’t have our heroes in the movie screens or on TV and music,” Echo-Hawk said.

Echo-Hawk said he became motivated to begin his career as a proactive artist from “just seeing the lack of an honest, contemporary, artistic voice coming from Indian country.”

Echo-Hawk’s appearance at Sac State will not be a typical lecture.

“I am actually performing. I am doing an interactive art with the audience. The audience is actually going to conceptualize a painting and I will paint it for them on the spot,” Echo-Hawk said.

These interactive paintings and more will be available at a live auction, starting at $10. Echo-Hawk’s paintings typically reach $2,000-$3,000 at auction. All proceeds from this auction will go to Sac State’s Ensuring Native Indian Traditions club.

Chrissa DeRosiers, president of Ensuring Native Indian Traditions club, is looking forward to Echo-Hawk’s lecture to bring about awareness of Native American art, culture and tradition.

“He and his family are pretty well known in Indian country in regards to political activism (and) working in the tribal community in Washington DC. Basically, in Native American country, he is a pretty big deal,” DeRosiers said.

Echo-Hawk’s father is a civil rights attorney who battles for Native American rights and also wrote a book for which Echo-Hawk provided the illustrations.

Vanessa Esquivido, Ensuring Native Indian Traditions club member, is glad to see her organization, as well as the Multi-Cultural Center and the Native American studies department, come together to make Echo-Hawk’s event happen.

“I am most excited about the campus and community coming together. There has been a really big disconnect in the past,” Esquivido said.

Echo-Hawk’s lecture could bring awareness and education to the campus about positive Native American images.

Kayla Oliverio can be reached at [email protected]