Elisa Harkins: Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ

Performance view, Elisa Harkins, Zoë Poluch, Hanako Hoshimi-Caines: Radio III / ᎦᏬᏂᏍᎩ ᏦᎢ, On the Boards, 2022. Photo © 2022 Bruce Clayton Tom.
Elisa Harkins (2024 Awardee) created Wampum / ᎠᏕᎳ ᏗᎦᎫᏗ as an expression of Indigenous Futurism, blending electronic dance music with Indigenous languages to revitalize and celebrate them through live performance. The performance features Harkins singing in a combination of Cherokee, English, and Muscogee (Creek).