That was when Henriquez and NDN Collective knew they needed to move forward with the design. As the camps dissolved and people carried the spirit of resistance back to their communities, Henriquez noticed that politicians amped up their disdain for justice by peaceful protest. When creating the design, Henriquez drew inspiration from the collective voice that emerged during the Standing Rock pipeline protest. “The bullhorn is symbolic of amplifying Native voices and the winter count bounds Native people to ancient Indigenous traditions.” “The woman pictured represents the global shift of power towards the feminine,” Henriquez states. It is no coincidence that the “Defend” Wool Blanket is launched on International Women’s Day. The mural, painted on the American Indian Community Housing Organization (AICHO) in Duluth, Minnesota, was created in collaboration with Honor the Earth and NSRGNTS. Votan Henriquez (Mayan and Nahua) pictured next to one of his murals: Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women/Water Protector. The artist behind the blanket, Votan Henriquez (Mayan and Nahua), is the founder of NSRGNTS and is best known for combining modern design with traditional influences to create large scale murals, street art and graphic design installations throughout the country. NDN Collective is an organization that works to build Indigenous power and sustainable solutions on Indigenous issues through activism, philanthropy, grantmaking, capacity-building and advocacy that is Indigenous led and reflects tribal values.
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The new blanket, called “Defend,” was designed by LA-based artist Votan Henriquez (Mayan and Nahua) and embodies the first piece of NDN Collective’s motto: “Defend.
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Eighth Generation, America’s fastest growing Tribally owned arts business, teamed up with Indigenous led NDN Collective to create a stunning new wool blanket that honors the power of women and the collective voice of Indigenous people.