Earl Davis doesn’t see himself as a teacher or as someone with sacred knowledge; he just sees himself as a facilitator.

In an attempt to improve the mental, physical, and spiritual health of his tribal community, Davis is leading an effort to revive both tangible and intangible cultural heritage, from carving to foodways to tribal languages.

Listen to Davis describe his connection with local artists, his community, and their shared history. In order to create, Davis looks to the past for inspiration. Traditions inform his current work; he views artifacts and objects as having a life of their own, a belief that shapes his artistic choices and interpretation of the original artist’s methods and emotions when creating the piece.

That’s why, for Davis, art can be so personal while still being rooted deeply in tradition.