Niimi (She Dances) is a figure who has her own journey home to Gitchi Onigaming (Grand Portage) captured in a number of my paintings. Her shawl incorporates the different colors of not only the medicine wheel, but also the colors of ziigwan (spring) flowers. In this painting, Niimi has returned to her home, to dance both to honor her doodem (clan) and to surround herself with the natural beauty. The diindiisi (bluejay) has joined Niimi and shares his song with her as he sits in the giizhikaatig (white cedar).
Niimi’s journey will continue in future paintings as her story unfolds, now that she has returned to Gitchi Onigaming.
Note: Find Sam Zimmerman on Instagram and Facebook under the name Crane Superior and at: cranesuperiorstudio@gmail.com.