Still Sovereign: Land, Law, Memory examines Tribal sovereignty as a living and ongoing reality. Guided by ancestral memory and Indigenous governance systems in existence long before the United States, the exhibition explores sovereignty through relationships to land, law and community. Through contemporary and traditional Indigenous art, historical materials and community knowledge, the exhibition demonstrates that sovereignty is not an abstract but an innate concept practiced every day through stewardship, governance, storytelling and responsibility to future generations.

This exhibit runs Sept. 4–Nov. 21 at UTulsa’s 101 Archer in the South Gallery. Our galleries are open Wednesdays through Saturdays from noon until 5 p.m. Special closures for private events will be announced on our social media pages. As always, admission is free.

About the curator:
Carly Treece (she/her) is a Citizen of the Mvskoke Nation and of Cherokee ancestry, based on the Mvskoke Nation in Tulsa, Oklahoma. A lifelong Tulsan born and raised in North Tulsa, she is a multidisciplinary artist, independent curator, cultural facilitator and community advocate whose work centers Indigenous sovereignty, representation, land, memory and community.

As an artist, Treece creates abstract paintings using oil and cold wax, building layered surfaces that explore her emotional, spiritual and ancestral relationship with the land in Indian Territory. Her practice engages themes of land and body sovereignty, Indigenous womanhood, place and memory, using abstraction to affirm Indigenous presence and create space for reflection and dialogue

Treece’s curatorial practice is equally central to her work. She develops exhibitions and projects that center contemporary Indigenous perspectives, challenge colonial narratives and amplify the voices of Indigenous artists, particularly women and Two-Spirit artists. She has curated exhibitions and contributed to cultural and educational projects across the United States, bringing together art, history, community knowledge and public programming. Read more about Carly’s work here.