Smith often makes a simple but profound observation: “My existence is a miracle.” With this phrase, she recognizes that despite genocide, decades of war, forced assimilation, and systemic oppression, she and other Indigenous survivors are still here to practice and share their culture. Throughout her work, Smith acknowledges that the wisdom of ancestors and elders is not only sacred but essential, and references to matrilineage and matriarchal power recur, often through the image of the cut-wing dress. Plains and Plateau women express their creativity and mark life events with the dress, and Smith uses it to convey the individuality and strength of Indigenous women who lead their families and communities. Densely layered and laden with meaning, Smith’s signs and symbols celebrate the ways in which reclamation of traditions and their continued observance preserve Indigenous cultures for generations yet to come.
