SHAWNEE — Amber DuBoise-Shepherd’s heritage is on display, rendered with care in pen and ink, in a work of art titled “The Greetings and Clans of My Ancestors.”

Appropriately, the black-and-white quartet of self-portraits is displayed in a place of prominence at her booth at the Red Earth Festival, where she was one of the first recipients of the emerging artist award in 2018. 

“But I’ve been a part of Red Earth for a long time because my late grandmother used to be a vendor here forever. I remember fighting for seating to go to the powwow as a little kid; my parents would save seats so we could all go watch the grand entry. So, I’ve been coming since I was a kid,” recalled DuBoise-Shepherd, who is affiliated with the Navajo, Sac & Fox and Prairie Band Potawatomi.