Native American Women: Voices Across Generations

Over the past decade, we have amplified the voices of courageous Native American women. Many of them have suffered, survived, and transformed the communities that suffer from the effects of violent colonization and the resulting intergenerational trauma. We strive to provide a platform for their trauma and to amplify their brightest moments and achievements. 

Joyce Jackson Arndt has been a subject of our films since our focus on Native American justice began in 2010, emerging from our work on sex trafficking. She is a subject in Native Silence (2013), a solemn account of the legacy of the forced adoption of Native American children. Our relationship with Joyce and her family has continued over the last decade, staying committed to not only the issues we cover but the people we film.

We are honored to share Joyce’s recent accomplishment: a retrospective art exhibition titled “I seek to tell a good story.” Featured in the Watermark Art Center, her paintings will be on display until November 11th of this year. Joyce’s artist bio states: Joyce Jackson Arndt (White Earth Nation) was cut off from her cultural identity during much of her childhood.  As a toddler, she was placed in foster care and became homeless as a young woman. Knowing that her identity as a Native American was portrayed negatively because of stereotypes and racism, she began to use art to portray her people positively. She likes to work with watercolor, oils, and acrylic. Talking about her love of art, Joyce said, “There was a saving grace for me, and the passion grew inside of me…I’m hoping that someone will get something out of it, and it’ll make them a better person that day”.

3G continues to focus on the disproportionate violence Native women and girls face. We center on how atrocities against women and Native communities are particularly egregious. For more information about our films that amplify Native women and the causes we support, please visit our website at 3generations.org and connect with us on social media @3_generations.