User:Avannupo/Angel DeCora

Angel De Cora Dietz IAIA Student Art History Research By Thomas Cox April 23, 2009 One of our Creator’s greatest gifts, lit up like a lantern bestowed upon one Winnebago Indian women to be seen and heard though generations to come. She was here for just a little while but touched many people. I know because I’ve been touched through researching her as an Artist, studying Art History here at The Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Angel De Cora Dietz (Winnebago, 1871-1919), or Hinook-Mahiwi-Kalinaka (Fleecy Cloud Floating Into Place), was born at the Winnebago Agency in Dakota County (now Thurston), Nebraska, on May 3, the daughter of David tall Decora, a Winnebago of French ancestry. Her Mother was a member of the influential LaMere family (Peyer 325).

Understanding being Indian, Angels historical trauma of being assimilated and her personally witnessing genocides, through her ancestral historical trauma shown within the tearing apart of Winnebago families, culture, and land throughout history. And then having a strong resilience in life to overcome and flourish in life helping one’s self and the people around her.

Fire Light a book about Angel’s life history as a person and artist is a well documented book about her life and reading about the beauty of one Indian woman’s survival being Winnebago, and adapting to the Euro-Americans culture, from the western European culture.

This beautiful magnificent book researched and written by Author Linda M Waggoner, Angel’s own blood relative created to share with the world. I highly recommend for the love of an Indigenous race of people shown through education and art.

One art piece Fire Light,helps understand a huge accomplishment from an indigenous woman's life.“Angel De Cora painted fire light to illuminate warm memories of her childhood life on the Nebraska plains after she settled far from home in the east” (xiii Waggoner). This Oil Painting, “for an Indian school exhibit, for the Pan-American Exposition in Buffalo, New York “(101). Has shown much creativity not only as an artist but as an American Indian woman flourishing like a beautiful butterfly and being put into history for her life works and achievements, this only touches a glimpse of her life accomplishments, that will stand out among artists to infinity.