A criticism I often see in, but not limited to, the art world is, is that Native peoples are not practicing entirely in a traditional way.
I often defend other artists when I see this kind of discussion taking place, and now find that I defend myself in the same way.
No, my work isn’t entirely traditional, I use raffia instead of our native grasses, and dyes that aren’t always natural on said raffia (I even use spices that aren’t from this country) and I don’t always use traditional stitches; not to mention that I also spin, sew and weave on a loom!
One of the many things FNP are known for is adaptation and sustainability, I come from a long line of peoples that adapted to a changing earth since the beginning of time, and the effects of colonisation. One of those effects is that our traditional ways are not always able to practiced in the same way, and as a result our art has become increased important to us. We continue to adapt and keep sustainability at the forefront of all we do, and our art practices often reflect this.
I also embrace practices, tools and materials that reflect my mixed European heritage. I work with wool from the UK, spin on an electric wheel not a traditional one (gasp) and use a laser cut loom to weave tapestries.
I am a mix of many different peoples all over the world, and my art reflects this - materials and techniques are mixed and matched, and in the end everything comes together to create something amazing.