ASHEVILLE, N.C. — Jared Wheatley had a vision of walls in downtown Asheville telling stories of not only the Cherokee Nation, but Indigenous nations across the country. That vision came to life when he started the Indigenous Walls Project.
What You Need To Know
- The Indigenous Walls Project in Asheville aims to amplify awareness of native cultures and to spark conversations with non-native communities
- According to a Reclaiming Native Truth Report, many people are unaware of the current existence of Indigenous nations
Growing up being taught traditions of his ancestors and family members as a part of the Cherokee Nation, Jared came across information that alarmed him.
He said people are not only unaware of the issues Indigenous nations face, but people are unaware of their current existence altogether, according to a Reclaiming Native Truth Report.
“The goal is to be so visible that we can’t be ignored,” Jared Wheatley said.
Through access to public space for art installations, Jared hopes they will enhance awareness of the diversity of Indigenous nations and artists.
“We are trying to spread awareness of our people’s presence and our culture and our traditions, but also, that we’re trying to bring land back to our people,” Jared’s child, Nex Wheatley said.
The pair said they feel the stereotypes first hand.
“You walk around life, and as a Native person, you’re camouflaged by the perception of what a Native is supposed to be,” Jared Wheatley said.
“The image is gonna be a red man with a large nose, a headdress, bareback on a horse and it’s definitely interesting, but also very strange to see that as the way that a lot of people tend to see not just our entire nation, but all nations and all people Indigenous to this land,” Nex Wheatley said.
Jared feels a sense of pride as he watches Nex design their own wall with intention.
“It can represent peace and unity, but more literally, it can represent the sun coming back after a rainstorm, which is a reason why I think it would be nice in this piece, based on what we’re doing, which is trying to shine a better light on our people after a very rough history,” Nex Wheatley said, as they looked up at the wall they just finished spray painting.
Jared Wheatley believes their history goes unrecognized, their present is ignored and their future is in the hands of not only those who pass on the language and traditions, but also those who advocate for them.
“Some people will walk by, and they won’t even recognize essentially at all what’s happened, that it’s completely invisible,” Jared Wheatley said.
That’s why he’ll continue making his mark on downtown and inviting individuals from across the nation to join him.
“We aim to keep putting this up enough and enough, and continuing to get up on the walls to the point when people say, ‘What is that thing I keep seeing?’,” Jared Wheatley said. “Then somebody who knows will say, ‘That’s the Cherokee,' and that’s the goal.”