https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/purchase daily 0.75 2025-11-05 https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/about daily 0.75 2025-11-05 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1582401596596-O1RBE4ZF823UC7ZGIGBL/Screen+Shot+2020-02-22+at+11.26.29+AM.png About the Artist - “You get good medicine from telling these stories.” Really like my work? Want to support an artist and storyteller? You can buy me a coffee! An enrolled member of the Cherokee Nation, Jonni is a versatile graphic designer, writer, and illustrator. Since she was small, Jonni has always found solace in art and stories, finding joy in the various way we share ourselves with others. A self-proclaimed introvert, she found her voice in oral storytelling after moving away from Oklahoma to Oregon. Selling artwork based on the stories she grew up with, she answered questions and retold the tales as they were shared with her. As one friend remarked, “You light up. You get good medicine from telling these stories.” Jonni would like to extend endless thanks to her relations—to her grandfather, the late Deputy Chief John Ketcher Sr., who gave her a love of her culture; to her grandmother, Ferne Pilon, who taught her how to first hold a pencil; and to her loving parents, Dalene and John Jr., who nurtured her drive and curiosity in life. — Jonni currently lives in Portland, OR along with her partner and resident land shark/rescue dog, Inola. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/inperson daily 0.75 2026-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1652148718457-PY9IFQG4HQUV8TMN2CSN/index.png In-Person https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1652149471867-Z30N4PC7JW071JMH2B8L/Screen+Shot+2022-05-09+at+7.23.35+PM.png In-Person https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1652149697871-FJ41Z7M6K09EH1NK9AI2/message-in-a-bottle-3437294_1280.jpg In-Person https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/69703520-b3d1-411b-88f2-7191486b7758/Screenshot+2024-11-09+at+11.53.24+AM.png In-Person https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/shows daily 0.75 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/4affb8d7-d2dc-45cd-9574-e55adefae4b9/Screenshot_2023-06-14-22-13-56-74_1c337646f29875672b5a61192b9010f9.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/f05b4cad-9e14-44df-89d6-93a6e827a2a9/IMG_20210814_142736.jpg https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/59f5bea4-3a91-4377-9d92-af7518ef29cf/Screenshot_20220814-015102.jpg https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/linkhub daily 0.75 2024-11-09 https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/tattoo daily 0.75 2026-03-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/c092ee0a-9223-479e-a6dc-693b858f9bda/223163638173370198.JPG https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/contact daily 0.75 2025-11-05 https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work daily 1.0 2026-08-21 https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/gresham-bb monthly 0.5 2026-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/a95ca35c-dd9d-4e06-b808-ad19689ddbc7/GreshamBirdBox2026.jpeg https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/the-trickster monthly 0.5 2020-02-24 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1582504247231-V976Y7966C5FGXE6PWR6/gradient.jpg Work - The Trickster - The Trickster I’ve always been fascinated by Trickster type in stories. They are simultaneously the most hated and the one many rely on to find a clever solution out of a problem. And despite their penchant for betrayal, their friends give them the benefit of the doubt time and time again. Rabbit is the clever troublemaker in various stories, either causing grief for the other animals or finding clever ways to get what he wants. He is a far cry from what we see in traditional American literature, which paints rabbits as timid and cautious beings. Perhaps there’s more to these creatures than they let on… https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/change-comes-on-hoofbeat monthly 0.5 2021-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577563086027-FGLLH48UN2HYTX4F9KAM/-horse-sm.jpg Work - Change Comes on Hoofbeat - Change Comes on Hoofbeat For a long time, I shied away from traditional Native American imagery. I’m sure someone will claim it as my usual penchant for contrariness, because while I loved riding horses, the idea of the horse being so intrinsically tied to Native American imagery always fascinated me. The horse is so iconic to most peoples’ view of what constitutes a Native American, but horses came to the Americas at a great cost. They were brought by the Spanish who brutalized our cousins to the south and carried with them with diseases that the indigenous peoples of America had no immunity against. After I began selling my prints at shows, I had a peer offer the advice that I should “-Draw wolves and eagles. Or horses. People love that traditional Native stuff. You’ll sell more.” The encounter left a bad taste in my mouth and like any artist, sometimes the best way to vent is through art. So when I set out to create something more “traditional” I sought to capture the catch-22 of the horse: they are majestic and powerful, wonderful creatures of strength and beauty. But they are omens of change to the Native American as well. Tribes adapted and advanced around the introduction of the horse, the gun, and so much more, but there was a cost that was already in the process of being paid. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/heron monthly 0.5 2021-08-22 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1629666524653-2PQII89YKDX2OZNLUHZ0/Heron-8.5x11in+copy.jpg Work - Black Snake and Heron - Black Snake and Heron For every sale of this print, $5 goes to the Water Protector Legal Collective. WPLC a legal support group that provides legal support and advocacy for Indigenous peoples, the Earth, and climate justice movements. 2020 was a rough year for a variety of reasons, though one good thing did come of it. I began to really, truly believe in the phrase: “Sometimes, you plant a tree that you will never sit in the shade of.” There are times we, as humans, take action because we realize our actions play into something bigger than ourselves. It’s sometimes hard to quantify, especially when the world has been shrunk down to fit in your back pocket, though it’s true. I like to think Indigenous people are really good at this thought process. Our ancestors knew you couldn’t over-hunt an area because the next year you might find nothing living there at all. If you haven’t seen the show Rutherford Falls yet, I cannot recommend it enough. Terry Thomas (Michael Greyeyes) does a great job of summarizing this concept. So let’s say climate change is a hoax. We can still definitively point to the destruction these oil fields cause–for the land its located on, to the people’s whose homes the pipes run through, to the wild and plant life it destroys. Yes, it creates jobs in the short term, powers cars and other infrastructure–but what do we and our future children lose to the destructive process? I chose a heron for its home many of these oilfields are found at and to symbolize the protectors of the land (animals, flora, the climate justice movement). It drips liquid gold that companies covet. The hands are how we, the consumers, support the industries that strangle the life from these beings, which can be found in the backdrop of the art. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/uktena-and-sun-daughter monthly 0.5 2022-07-13 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577564404319-308K1MVXX5T6RH6VM1ZP/image-asset.jpeg Work - Uk'tan and the Daughter of the Sun - Uk’tan and the Daughter of the Sun Before we begin this tale, you must understand how Cherokee clans work: They are matrilineal (meaning children come from their Mother’s clan) and it is forbidden to marry anyone from the same clan. All beings in the sky are one clan, from the Thunderers, the stars, as well as the Sun and the Moon. The Moon had grown to admire the Sun’s Daughter, though he did not know her, he only enjoyed her beauty. He went to the the Sun and asked if he could marry her daughter, but she turned him away like she had done before when he asked for her hand. Scorned and bitter, the Moon left. Months later, during that time when the Moon hides his face and we can’t see him (known as the New Moon phase), the Moon made his way down to a nearby village, stealing a finely made blanket. Since his rejection, he had come up with a plan. The Sun’s pride was very fragile and he decided would use that against her. At dawn, when the Moon and the Sun pass one another at the corners of the sky, he held his head high and held out his arms to either side, showing off the craftsmanship of the blanket. “Beautiful, isn’t it?” He bragged. “The People gave it to me. As a sign of love and respect for brightening up the dark nights.” “Yes… it is beautiful…” The Sun said, hurt. The Sun had been asked by the Creator to dance every day across the sky, bringing light and warmth to the earth. But no one had ever thanked her for her hard work. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/beetle-and-vulture monthly 0.5 2019-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577565132354-MERFN1HQFM8Y0K12WK1L/image-asset.jpeg Work - Beetle and Vulture Create the Earth - Beetle and Vulture Create the Earth When the Earth was still water, all the animals lived with the Thunderers (great beings of the sky) in heaven. It had been that way since anyone could remember, but as time went on, they realized they were running out of room in heaven. To solve the problem of overcrowding, the Thunderers decided to hold a contest, asking all the animals and insects to show their talents. First went Wolf, who sang; then Rabbit, who danced; and Spider, who wove beautiful tapestries of web. And so it went until finally it was Water Beetle’s turn. Days before, he went to his cousin, Water Spider, and asked if she could teach him to weave. “Why not show off your talent?” Water Spider asked. “No one wants to watch me hold my breath,” Water Beetle mumbled. “At least Bear is strong and you weave your webs. My skill isn’t very useful.” Water Spider tutted at him, but hugged him close. “Everyone has a special skill–it’s all a matter of finding a use for it.” And so Water Beetle stood in front of the Thunderers and held his breath for a very, very long time. But the Thunderers were not as impressed as Water Spider and Water Beetle was cast out of heaven. When Water Beetle finally made it down to Earth, he realized how dark and endless the place was. He swam for miles, finding no land or light. Realizing he had to find somewhere to rest if he was going to survive, Water Beetle took a great gulp of air and dove down, trying to see if he could find anything there instead. He swam for hours and just when he thought he saw something, he realized he would have to swim back up then if he was going to have enough air to make it back to the surface. He swam back, but this time was determined to reach the bottom he thought he saw. With a great gulp of air, bigger than he had ever taken, he splashed back down into the depths, swimming harder than he ever had before. He swam and swam. He held his breath for so long he felt his head get cloudy, but he kept going, reaching a hand out to grab at the bottom. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/cherokee-turban monthly 0.5 2019-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577567252788-N2689Y4DDPN38DZ0C5M5/image-asset.jpeg Work - Cherokee Turban - Cherokee Turban Unlike most music festival goers would have you believe, the Cherokee did not wear headdresses. This was a feature of the plains tribes and anyone wearing a headdress who claims it’s ok because their “great grandma was a Cherokee Princess” should receive a clean slap on the mouth. There is some debate as to the origins of the turban in Cherokee dress–some claim it was something that had been a part of the culture for generations. Another source claims that during the expansion of colonialism within the early Americas, a delegate party of Cherokees traveled across the Atlantic to ask King of England to please control his subjects because this whole moving into their territory thing just wasn’t funny anymore. They arrived in traditional dress, which would have included buckskin pants, loin cloth, no shirt, and shaved heads with a small knot of hair at the crown of their head–as was tradition at the time. The courtiers decided this was highly inappropriate to delicate English sensibilities and that the delegation could not be presented to the king in such a state. They scrambled to find something else for the group to wear. Luckily for them, a visiting group of Indians–actual Indians, from India (thanks Christopher Columbus, that hasn’t caused any confusion at all)–had left behind some of their clothing. This included robes and, you guessed it, turbans. Rumor among some is that the delegate body then brought this new fashion back to the Americas, where it became a staple of mens dress. This look was later immortalized by the creator of the Cherokee syllabay, the polymath Sequoyah, who basically coined the look. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/little-deer monthly 0.5 2019-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577565826885-3N3GQ1MEGLCAXPJPEAQK/image-asset.jpeg Work - Little Deer - Little Deer Little Deer is a guardian spirit ignored at a cost. In the old days, man and animal were friends. Animals could talk and the people lived alongside them as friends. However, with time, man began to increase in number and in order to feed this growing population, they turned to hunting animals for food and clothing. A favorite was the deer, for their meat and pelt and it came to the point where only a few remained. Those that survived this massacre then decided to hold council to decide what could be done. As they were not strong like Bear or aggressive like Wolf, the deer decided that they could not go to war with man. Instead, they decided to teach him humility. It was decided that when a deer was killed, hunters would be taught a song to ask for pardon for killing the deer, thanking it for its life and flesh. Those who did not would be sent crippling rheumatism so that he would never be able to hunt again. The first the deer told about this was two brothers, known as the strongest and fastest hunters in their village. They were handsome and well-like by all for their skills, and with this brought ignorance. They laughed when the deer told them of the consequences of not asking for their pardon–after all, they needed no permission from their prey to hunt. So they continued to slaughter deer, ignoring the warning. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/elisi-yona monthly 0.5 2019-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577567507440-Y3YRZGVXIW5AMKZWJ62R/image-asset.jpeg Work - Elisi Yona (Mother Bear) - Elisi Yona (Grandmother Bear) When I began doing shows at the Native Youth center, without fail there was an Indigenous veteran who would stop by my booth, looking for pieces with bears. I hadn’t yet created such a piece, but after the third time, I set out to create something specifically for the next time she came by. What struck me about this woman was her personality. She had some sort of knee issue, scooting about on her bright red mobile scooter, and she was perhaps half a foot shorter than me, but you could tell from the way she carried herself she had presence. She also cussed like no one’s business. She was stellar. “At rest” is probably the most prominent feeling I got from her, because every time I saw her she gave me the impression that once she started moving toward something she had set her eyes on, she would be near impossible to stop—very much like a bear. The linework in this piece is intentionally lighter than the black of the fur because I wanted to imply a sort of weight and power along with a sort of lighter approachability. While white is the traditional color of peace (the white council governed in times of peace), I chose to use blue for its soothing aura and then red for the energy and her combat background. Hidden in the belly of the bear is the Cherokee word for “bear,” pronounced “yo-nah.” https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/water-spider-brings-fire monthly 0.5 2022-05-10 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577563433211-NZR98SI7BJB0ZY7QGEAW/image-asset.jpeg Work - Water Spider Brings Fire to the World - Water Spider Brings Fire to the World Long ago, there was no fire and the earth was cold. The animals, who had left Galun’lati because it had become too crowded, cried up in despair at their misfortune. “We are cold!” They cried to the Thunderers, who still looked down from above. Hearing this cry, The Thunderers sent down a flash of lightening to strike the bottom of a hollow sycamore tree which grew on a distant island. From it, fire sprouted forth, and the animals stared in awe of the distant light. However, the Thunderers often made choices that to us seem illogical or strange, and even the animals weren’t sure how they were going to retrieve this new asset. They held council to decide what to do next. Raven, who at the time had beautiful, pristine, white feathers, offered to fly across the water first. He flew across the water and landing on a branch of the sycamore tree. As he sat there, pondering what to do next, the smoke and heat from the fire rose, scorching his beautiful feathers black. So frightened by the power of fire, he flew back without it. This is why his feathers are black to this very day. Then the Screech Owl volunteered to go next, and arrived at the tree safely, but when she peered down into the tree, a blast of hot air came up and nearly burned her eyes out. She managed to fly back to the other animals, but it was a long time until she was able to see again. That is why her eyes and the eyes of her children are red. Now, none of the birds wanted to go, for fear for their safety. Instead, the Racer Snake offered to go. He swam through the water and to the island, darting into a small hole at the bottom. By then it was too late, however, as the smoke and heat blinded him as well. He dodged over the hot ashes, looking for a way out until he himself was scorched black himself. And that is why is known as the Black Racer Snake–for his dark scales and the darting motion he makes as he travels (as though he is trying to escape something). Next was the great Black Snake, though at the time he was only known as the Climber for how he would hang from the branches of all trees. But as he did so, he peered down and was nearly blinded just as Screech Owl had. He fell inside the trunk and before he could climb out again he had been turned as black as the Black Racer Snake. The animals then held another council. They were still without fire and the earth was still cold, but no one wanted to go in fear of what could happen to them. Many came up with excuses as to why they could not go, too afraid to venture too close. Finally, Water Spider said she would go. “But you are so small!” The animals asked, disbelievingly. “How will you bring back fire? But Water Spider spun a thread from her body and wove it into a tusti bowl, which she fastened to her back. Then she swam across to the island and climbed through the grass to the fire. There, Water Spider put a tiny little coal into her bowl and swam back with it. And that is how fire came to the world. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/rabbit-stole-otters-pelt monthly 0.5 2019-12-28 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1577566103037-7KD89U51YIX3FXFZI8H0/image-asset.jpeg Work - How Rabbit Stole Otter's Pelt - How Rabbit Stole Otter’s Pelt A long time ago, when the animals could still talk, an argument broke out over who had the finest pelt. Finally, after much bickering and fighting, they concluded that Otter had the finest pelt. They then decided to throw a party for Otter, dedicated to his finely kept coat. But Otter didn’t live in the village with the other animals–in fact, he lived several days away. As the animals began to discuss who would travel to fetch Otter, Rabbit raised his paw to volunteer. All the animals knew Rabbit was up to no good–they all had, in some way or another, been affected by his tricks at some point or another. But with Rabbit offering to travel the seven days it took to reach Otter’s house and then the seven days back, that meant two whole weeks where they wouldn’t have to worry about him cooking up some new scheme. The animals agreed, some of them waving Rabbit off and telling him ‘not to strain himself’ during the journey or ‘hurry back too soon.’ Rabbit sniffed and hurried along, wasting no time and following the river to Otter’s home. When he got there, he rapped on the door and then adopted a pitiful pose, wringing his paws together in a worried manner. As Otter opened the door, he noticed his friend’s unease and couldn’t help ask what was the matter. “My friend...” Rabbit began, “I’m so sorry to bother you. But... well, I’ve been sent to escort you.” Otter, confused, opened the door a little wider. “’Escort?’ Has something happened?” https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/kanati monthly 0.5 2023-04-09 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/1652141904342-RX99RLK1QBPP6RD36VRC/image-asset.jpeg Work - Kanadi, The Lucky One - Kanadi, “The Lucky One” I started this piece back in October of 2020–which might give you an idea of how long these pieces can take. I’m very particular about how I produce these illustrations because I want to communicate parts of the story so you can see it echoed in the piece itself. Red is an aggressive color in our tribe–we have the White Council who is in charge of peace times, and the Red Council, who oversees actions in times of war. So when I use the color I try to be very deliberate. Kanadi was known as the Lucky Hunter. Whenever he was asked, he would go up the mountain with his bow, and roll away a boulder from the mouth of the cave. He would then call the animal out, cleanly killing it with one shot. (Note the single piece of white in the piece–the white arrow–for his merciful killing.) Now, Kanadi had two sons that he had with his wife Selu. They were very mischievous and always getting into trouble. One day, they decided they wanted to know how to hunt. But Kanadi knew they weren’t ready and that their nature would get the best of them. He told them no. So, when Kanadi set out next to bring game home, his sons decided to follow him. They followed him up the mountain to the cave and watched as their father rolled the boulder away. Out darted a large buck, who Kanadi killed with a single arrow. As the boys watched, he sang over the deer before picking it up and leaving back for their village. The boys then decided to try and catch their own deer. Taking out the bows they had made themselves, they rolled the boulder away and out darted a deer. They shot, and missed, and it disappeared into the woods. Then, out came another, and another, and another. Then came the bears, the rabbits, the birds, and all the animals. The boys were so confused what was happening, they began firing arrows wildly, but only one struck a deer’s tail, flipping it up and where it as remained till this very day. At this point, Kanadi had turned around and stumbled upon the chaos his sons had created. He was so furious, he gave a sharp, trilling whistle and from the caves came the insects. Bees, and wasps, mosquitos, and all the other insects. They fell upon the boys, biting and stinging until Kanadi was satisfied. Once the insects had left into the world, Kanadi went up to his sons and told them they would now have to hunt their own dinner and could not rely on him. They would need to learn how to track and hunt the animal and learn their songs. This was a time of great chaos, as everyone in the village had relied on Kanadi for their meat. (For the animals, they were now at war with mankind, who hunted them viciously and with no understanding of how to properly hunt. This is why they are colored red.) As for Kanadi, he left his village for the Darkening Land, where he has lived ever since with his wife Selu. My grandfather told me he sometimes leaves to walk the Earth, appearing to hunters in need or those with a kind heart, to show them the way to game. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/strawberry monthly 0.5 2026-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/6fd81d00-0baf-4cb0-96ba-57953a17b510/CC_FirstStrawberry-thumb.jpg Work - The First Strawberry - The First Strawberry This particular story holds special meaning in my heart. My family lived in Nevada at the time and so whenever my grandpa would visit, I would always ask him for more stories. Eventually, as I got a little older, I asked my grandpa for a book with a Cherokee story, something to keep me entertained between his visits. It was on his next visit he brought me this book—retold by Joseph Bruchac and illustrated by Anna Vojtech—which I still have in my possession today. The First Strawberry was a tale shared with me by page, instead of orally as most of my family’s stories were. The significance of this particular book came at a time when I loved Disney movies (as most young girls in the 90s did) but the only representation I had was Pocahontas and Tiger Lily from Peter Pan. Little did I know the impact this simple picture book would have on a younger me. It was one of the few illustrated mediums where I saw an Indigenous couple represented and to see them in a human way—not something that relied on the tired tropes of Native Mysticism. They fought. They made up. They were not white. And when so many picture books were of white children or animals, to that young girl who was the only Native in her elementary classes, it was profound. https://ndnindian.squarespace.com/work/winter-rabbit monthly 0.5 2026-08-12 https://images.squarespace-cdn.com/content/v1/5e07a90ac5728c661f2cfde3/708b0b2d-bc7c-4aee-86bf-1810220537f0/Screenshot+2024-11-09+at+11.53.24+AM.png