News Release
PrEPahHontoz Tipi Project
After successful exhibit events at prestigious venues like New York’s Whitney Museum of Art, and the United Nations Permanent Forum On Indigenous Issues, Lakota artist and traditionalist Sheldon Raymore brings his groundbreaking “PrEPahHontoz Tipi Project” to Amsterdam, Netherlands at the 22nd International AIDS Conference on July 23rd-27th.
The International Indigenous Working Group On HIV & AIDS (IIWGHA,) who hosted the Pre-conference says, “It is themed around building bridges across the world and uniting our strengths in order for Indigenous Peoples to take their rightful place on the international stage (www.iiwgha.org).”
Both conferences have values that speak to the heart of what Raymore has been cultivating for years both as a Native American artist and an HIV/AIDS advocate and activist.
Raymore initially invented his performance character “PrEPahHontoz,” to encourage indigenous individuals to seek PrEP services, and consider adding the once daily pill that prevents HIV infection to their prevention arsenals. Having released her debut single “Take The Pill,” last year, PrEPahHontoz captivates audiences with her unique blend of Native American sign language, urban vogueing, and tradition.
“She’s sassy and has something important to say,” says Raymore, an enrolled member of the Cheyenne River Sioux tribe. “As Indigenous people, storytelling is an important part of our culture. Art is a way to convey stories and ideas in a fun and engaging way.”
“As I began to see the absence of the native voice and narrative throughout the story of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and movement, it became clearer that there was a need for an intervention like the ‘PrEPahHontoz Tipi Project’ to facilitate that narrative, and to fight the silencing of our people,” says Raymore.
With support from the American Indian Community House NYC, Office of Minority Health Resource Center, Indian Health Service, United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Gofundme Donors, individual artists, and volunteers, the “PrEPahHontoz Tipi Project” harnesses the traditional and cultural relevance of the Lakota “winter count.” Historically, each hand-drawn symbol tells the story of an important event that happened during that year among the Lakota tribes. Usually drawn and/or painted on a buffalo hide, these winter counts serve as a traditional history book.
The “PrEPahHontoz Tipi Project” marks important events in the Native American community throughout the past 30 plus years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic with a winter count designed for an event that has happened each year.
They have been hand-drawn and painted on to life-size tipis by Raymore and native volunteer artists from the NYC indigenous community. The result is a breathtaking, living piece of art, history, and resilience.
“The tipi project utilizes art and culture as prevention and treatment,” says Raymore. “Conversations about HIV/AIDS can be difficult to have in Native circles. As the artists were given a year and event to create a winter count for, these conversations happened naturally.”
“Community members were engaged, learning, sharing experiences pertaining to HIV/AIDS, and supporting one another. That is what the “PrEPahHontoz Tipi Project” is all about. Mobilizing native communities to know both the history of HIV/AIDS, it’s current state, and the role we as First Nations people play in not just surviving another epidemic, but ending it!.”
Taking a nine-foot painted tipi from New York to Amsterdam is no easy task. Raymore’s delivery of his message of accountability and action to Amsterdam is powered by the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), the Office Of Minority Health Resource Center, and IHS.
“I’m really excited to attend the 7th International Indigenous Pre-Conference on HIV and AIDS, and the International AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, Netherlands. This is such an amazing opportunity to be a part of the Indigenous representation at both of these events,” says Raymore.
The visual artist, designer, spoken word artist, award-winning grass dancer, and actor has earned the respect of countless community members and supporters as a native activist, a visionary, and a leader. There is no doubt that history will repeat itself in Amsterdam this month.
For more information, visit http://www.PrEPahHontoz.com
