Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation

Lectures

Member Lecture with Jonathan Thunder

Join us for a special Member Lecture for Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation with artist and speaker Jonathon Thunder.

Lectures

Member Lecture with Curator

Join us for a special Member Lecture with curator Denene De Quintal.

Films

Anangong Miigaading: Star Wars: A New Hope

USA, 1977, directed by George Lucas; Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) dub: Canada, 2024, directed by Ellyn Stern Epcar | 121 min.Experience one of the most iconic films of all time, now presented in Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe), an original language of the Great Lakes region. Anangong Miigaading is part of an effort to preserve the language for future generations.This Anishinaabemowin (Ojibwe) dub will be shown with English subtitles and part of a film series hosted in conjunction with the exhibition Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation, on view from September 28, 2025, through April 5, 2026.

Talks & Tours

Member Preview Days, Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation

Be among the first to experience the DIA's newest exhibition, Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation, during this exclusive Member Preview. Other exclusive member events this weekend:Lecture with exhibition curator Denene De Quintal, 6 p.m. FridayLecture with exhibition artist Jonathan Thunder, 1 p.m. Saturday

Public Opening Celebration - Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation

Join us for a meaningful day of art, song, and community as we celebrate the public opening of Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation. This special event begins with the official dedication of Jason Quigno’s sculpture Maawandoonan (Bring Them Together) on the DIA's North Lawn.The day opens with a powerful welcome song by Asiginaak-Negamojig (Blackbird Singers), followed by remarks from museum staff and artist Jason Quigno, who will speak about the inspiration behind his work. The dedication concludes with a special honor song to mark the occasion.Throughout the afternoon, enjoy hands-on artmaking for all ages—including sculpture workshops with air dry clay, puppet-making in the studio, and drawing in the galleries. These drop-in activities reflect the themes of continuance, creativity, and connection explored in the exhibition.At 1 p.m., gather in Rivera Court for a performance by Asiginaak-Negamojig, a women’s circle devoted to singing solely in Ojibwe (Anishinaabemowin) to strengthen language and connection through music. Through seasonal songs and reflections of artworks, the group shares Anishinaabe stories of survival, renewal, and relationship with the land. This performance bridges traditional and contemporary voices, connecting song with the visual language of the exhibition.Sculpture Dedication Ceremony, Noon (North Lawn)Welcome Song – Asiginaak-NegamojigRemarks by Museum StaffArtist Talk – Jason QuignoMaanda Giizhigak (Honor Song) – Asiginaak-NegamojigDrop-in artmaking activities, 12–4 p.m. Air Dry Clay Sculpture (North Lawn)Wildlife Puppet Workshop (Art-Making Studio)Drawing in the Galleries (Great Hall)Closing, 1 p.m. (Rivera Court)Performance by Asiginaak-NegamojigSongs and reflections tied to artworks and seasonsRemarks by museum staff  This celebration is free with general admission. All ages are welcome. Come witness the continuation of Anishinaabe art and tradition—through sculpture, song, storytelling, and shared experience 

Member exclusive

Associates Gallery Talk and Tour with Denene De Quintal

Contemporary Anishinaabe Art: A Continuation celebrates the enduring cultures and creative achievements of more than 60 Anishinaabe artists from across the Great Lakes region. These artists represent a continuation of Anishinaabe creativity that has been ongoing for centuries. One of the largest presentations of contemporary Native American art in the Midwest and the first major Native American exhibition at the Detroit Institute of Arts in 30 years, this exhibition challenges perceptions of what Native American art can be, how it should be seen, and how it can be interpreted.Event Schedule6:30 p.m., Arrival7 p.m., Remarks, Curator-led tour of exhibition

Films

Contemporary Anishinaabe Artists

102 min.This program of three documentaries explores the work of artists Rabbett Before Horses Strickland, Delina White, and Jonathan Thunder.Rabbett Before Horses is a portrait of painter, musician, and theoretical mathematician Strickland (Red Cliff Band of Ojibwe) and the experiences that have shaped his work. Common Ground follows fashion designer Delina White (Leech Lake Band of Ojibwe) as she prepares for a Two-Spirit runway show at the Walker Art Center.Good Mythology examines the work of Jonathan Thunder (Red Lake Nation), whose surrealist paintings and animations draw from both pop culture and Anishinaabe mythology.  

Films

First Speakers: Restoring the Ojibwe Language

USA/2010 — produced by John Whitehead | 57 min.As recently as World War II, Ojibwemowin was the everyday language of the Anishinaabe people. Today, with fewer than one thousand fluent speakers left in the United States, Ojibwe elders and educators are racing against time to preserve it.Narrated by author and poet Louise Erdrich, First Speakers explores language revitalization efforts in Minnesota and Wisconsin, where more than half of the remaining fluent Ojibwemowin speakers live.