10/12/2026
“The reason I like photography so much is [because of] it's ability to actually re-contextualize events that happen, and reframe them, and physically manipulate time in this way that is not linear, and I think really speaks actually to the Indigenous worldview.” - Maya Tihtiyas Attean
This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, we celebrate the work of Maya Tihtiyas Attean, our 2026 Mentorship Artist in Residence. Attean is a Wabanaki (Penobscot & Passamaquoddy) artist living in Abenaki territory in Maine, raised on the Penobscot Reservation. Her work reflects her ancestry, resilience, and connections to the natural world, identifying the layered relationships between land, memory, and identity.
Combining the mediums and techniques of multiple cultures, Attean’s practice explores the duality she embodies within the colonized world she exists within. Her process turns the tools of her craft into methods of reclamation, envisioning Indigenous futures shaped by limitless possibility, resilience, and self-determination.
As the United States commemorates the 250th anniversary of its founding, Attean’s work serves as a powerful reminder that honoring Indigenous histories must go hand in hand with making space for Indigenous futures. Indigo Arts Alliance remains committed to amplifying Indigenous artistic voices and visions, supporting the ongoing work of Indigenous sovereignty, and the return of Indigenous lands.
Attean’s forthcoming monograph “Does the Land Remember?” is available for pre-order from wych elm press: https://tr.ee/qC6NIi8Hw7.
You can experience her work in person as part of “Holding the Light: Contemporary Wabanaki Photography” and “In the Shadow of the Eagle,” two group shows that also include Lokotah Sanborn '25 David C. Driskell Fellow. Both exhibitions foreground Wabanaki self-representation and are on view at the Abbe Museum in Bar Harbor, ME. Visit the link in our bio to learn more. 🔗
