In Season 8, Episode 2 of The Art Career Podcast, Emily sits down with Sarah Ortegon.

Sarah is an Eastern Shoshone–enrolled and Northern Arapaho visual artist, dancer, and performer whose work bridges ancestral knowledge, land, and contemporary Indigenous life. Raised between Denver and the Wind River Reservation in Wyoming, her practice spans painting, beadwork on hide, mixed media, and performance—grounded in memory, resilience, and cultural continuity. In 2013, she was crowned Miss Native American USA, a moment that led to years of international jingle dress performances and a deepened commitment to bringing Indigenous presence into contemporary cultural spaces.

Many first encountered Sarah through She Never Dances Alone (2019), a multi-channel video by Jeffrey Gibson, first presented on the screens of Times Square and later traveling internationally, including live performances at the Venice Biennale. Centering the jingle dress dance—a powwow dance traditionally performed by women to call upon ancestors for strength, healing, and protection—the work amplifies Indigenous visibility on a global stage.

In this episode, we talk about ancestral knowledge, contemporary Indigenous life, motherhood, and performance—how these threads intersect, and what it means to carry cultural continuity forward with intention and care. This conversation is part of a broader effort to support and elevate Indigenous women artists and to make space for their voices, practices, and leadership within contemporary art.

Follow Sara: ⁠https://www.instagram.com/nonookeiht_bee3eisei/?hl=en

Follow Emily McElwreath on Instagram: ⁠⁠@emilymcelwreath_art⁠⁠

Visit ⁠⁠theartcareer.com⁠⁠ for more episodes and resources

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Sound Engineer and Production: Josh Craig

Creative Direction: Nina Yankovic