Rodney Banashley
Rodney Banashley, now living in Minneapolis, graduated from the Institute of American Indian Arts in Santa Fe, NM. He excels in Kachina doll carving, beadwork, silver and gold jewelry, sculpting, painting and weaving. He considers himself a traditional artist who follows the old ways of his Native people. His family calls him, "Little Eagle Boy who cries." As a little boy, he would cry over Golden Eagle that people kept captive for their plumage and their use for sacred ceremonies and rituals. Feeling sorry for the captive birds, Rodney would sneak out at night and try to release them back into the wild so they could fly free. When he was caught trying to free the birds, he was scolded and whipped by the elders, considering this to be a great ceremonial transgression.
