Art and Healing – A Conversation with Joy Harjo and Cara Romero

Bioneers | Published: October 10, 2025 ArtIndigeneity Video

Art in many forms is both a spiritual practice and survival skill for Indigenous peoples. Often described as a healing journey, Native people work through art practices to reconnect to ancestors and traditional knowledge, recover from intergenerational trauma, and find ways to support family and build economy in suppressed reservation living standards. In this intimate conversation, former US Poet Laureate Joy Harjo and contemporary photographer Cara Romero discuss the creative process, inspirations and the importance of art and “artivism” in healing and resistance for Native peoples.

This conversation took place at the 2025 Bioneers Conference.

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