The stars and stripes of the American flag are found everywhere today, including on clothing, billboards, and bumper stickers. This practice is not new; the United States officially adopted the design of the flag in 1777, and it has been used for decorative purposes ever since.

What may be surprising is that in the late nineteenth century some Native American artists began to incorporate the flag into their work. Given the United States government’s treatment of Native peoples, the flag may seem an unusual design choice. However, its use carried meaning as a survival strategy, a warrior’s mark of honor, a symbol of protection, oran emblem of resistance. 

The complex relationship between First Americans and the United States flag has been shaped by the experiences of multiple generations over hundreds of years. While use of the flag in Native art is a reminder of the painful history of colonization, displacement, and oppression, it also represents the long tradition of pride in military service. From the realistic to the abstract, images of the flag can be found in traditional art forms and contemporary artistic expressions. Each generation interprets the flag to fit its own narrative as part of an ongoing dialogue about identity, sovereignty, and cultural revitalization

Image: Kee Yazzie (Diné), Diné Code Talker, 2000, Acrylic on canvas. Gift of Ernst & Edith M. Schwartz