This poster is based on a photograph by Edward Curtis, taken in 1909. Its subject is Kúnúh-kanánu (Bear Belly), an Arikara warrior who “gained his medicine” (meaning healing abilities or sacred knowledge) by single-handedly killing three bears in 1847. His bearskin represents the spiritual power he earned through that courage and ceremony. Today, the Arikara are one of the Three Affiliated Tribes (also known as the MHA Nation), along with the Mandan and Hidatsa. Their historic homeland extends from North Dakota to Wyoming, covering much of the Missouri River Basin. While it is not attributed on the poster, the accompanying quote is from Luther Standing Bear, a Lakota author and philosopher who fought for Native sovereignty through policy reform between the 1890s and the 1920s. Known as the Progressive Era, this period, when the U.S. government actively attempted to erase Native culture through forced assimilation, was traumatic for Indigenous people. Leaders like Standing Bear railed against these efforts, providing space and structure for advocacy that ultimately led to the government’s recognition of sovereignty for many tribes. Standing Bear’s words emphasize that only settlers view nature as wild rather than sacred. He also references the Great Mystery, one of many concepts shared by numerous Indigenous cultures that evoke the sacred presence and power instilled in all things.