Black Snake Killaz: A Retrospective on the Indigenous-Led Movement at Standing Rock featuring works by photographer Tonita Cervantes

October 2 - December 4, 2025
   This exhibit will honor the fight for indigenous sovereignty and uplift the anniversary of those who defended the land as water protectors at the Standing Rock reservation.
About Tonita Cervantes
   Tonita’s work highlights the common threads that connect people from all walks of life. Their sorrows, joys, and dreams for a better future reflect the essence of humanity.
   As a social documentary photojournalist, she takes an aggressive boots-on-the-ground approach. In her childhood, she was always drawn to the underdog and the invisible—perhaps because of her strong feeling of not belonging. Her artistic goal is to capture the unguarded moment by focusing on the window to the soul - their eyes.
   She is intrigued by the resilience that emerges in the face of limited resources. Witnessing the human spirit and the indomitable will of communities striving to survive against all odds is both humbling and inspiring. 
   Today, the country is rapidly barreling at an accelerated pace toward a dangerous and uncertain future filled with unimaginable challenges. However, prophecies from ancient ancestors urge us not to give up, to have faith in the Creator, and to continue the fight for a sustainable future.

In 1877, Chief Crazy Horse of the Lakota people, a mystic and fierce warrior, had a vision: "I see a time of seven generations, when all the colors of mankind will gather under the sacred tree of life and the whole earth will become one circle again.”