Artist

Joe Don Brave Artist STATEMENT
My artwork revolves around my heritage, emotions, environment and expressions that I have picked up through my adventures along the road, and while listening to the elders tell the stories of their experiences. I am the son of the Osage, part of its history and a product of its many changes, endured over time. I am a citizen of the world, as such, seek to define my identity and place within these two worlds, which are but one.
My Osage/Cherokee Roots
I grew up in Overland Park, Kansas, but I spent my summers and holidays in Osage County, Oklahoma. My family has deep roots in Osage County. My father comes from the Brave and Strike Axe, Osage families in the Pawhuska area. My mother comes from the Morrell, Penn, and Oberly Osage families from the Hominy and Grey Horse area, and I consider Osage County home! My father's mother was Cherokee, from Stillwell, Oklahoma and though I never met her, I feel very connected to her and the Cherokee Homelands. But because I grew up surrounded by the Osage, most of my inspiration comes from the rolling hills and flat vistas of Osage County, and the people who make up the community of Osages who call the county home!

Joe Don Brave
I started dancing in the I-lon-skha, the Osage Traditional Dances, when I was 13 years old. Here I am dressed to dance. This is the Southern Straight Dance style of clothes. These dances are not pow wow's, but traditional dances the Osage Nation has celebrated for over 100 years. These are very special weeks for the Osages, held during the month of June, starting in Grey Horse, 4 days with 2 sessions on Thursday, Friday, Saturday and one long session for family songs on Sunday. The we move to Hominy and do it all again and finally move to Pawhuska for the last weekend of June. Folks of Osage heritage come from all over the country to be with family and friends, visiting, dancing, eating! It's my favorite time of the year!
A resource to check out would be The Osage Ceremonial Dance I'n-Lon-Schka by Alice Callahan.