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Weeya’s traditional name is Agehya (ᎠᎨᏯ). Thank you so much for visiting her website. On this page you will read a little bit about her and who she is. Please take a moment to get to know her, as much as you can through a website. She appreciates your visit here. Weeya has a BA in Art Education with a Masters in Technology Integration. She is an art educator and has been a professional artist from a very young age. Weeya teaches up to 640 students annually and offers art classes to the community, as well.
Weeya offers digital art classes in her Native American community. She has 23 years experience in teaching art and was awarded a grant for her school district to start digital art classes for the 6th graders. She was awarded another grant through the Dollars for Art Program run by the Oneida Nations Art Program and funding from sponsors to begin a digital art program for the Native community. She is also an artist and storyteller. Her greatest joy is teaching art. In 2022, Weeya was nominated for the Teacher of Distinction Award and was awarded the Golden Apple Award.
In 2023, she was the recepient of a grant from WAB (Wisconsin Arts Board) to mentor a younger storyteller and a grant from the Green Bay Public Arts Commission. With this grant, she will begin a digital traveling art class where she will offer her Digital Art Classes to children in the local community organizations. She will also be working with the Native American community as well.
Weeya is also a storyteller sharing her traditional stories from her grandmothers and aunties. She shares these stories at local libraries, community centers, pow wows and other venues where requested. She loves representing Southeast Woodland People as a storyteller and presenter all over the Midwest and at her tribal homelands in Alabama.
She is a tribally enrolled citizen of The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama. All her work is legally Native American made or Indian made and covered under the federal law – The Indian Arts & Crafts Act of 1990. For more information on the act, see the Indian Arts & Crafts Act of 1990. You can also read more about the act at the end of this page. Also her work is authenticated through the previously run Indian Arts and Crafts Association and has the backing of the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission.
Weeya currently works as the technology specialist for The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama. She works with tribal entities, artists, sponsors and more to fulfill her duties as the technology specialist. As their technology administrator, she manages their social media and website. She previously worked with NATOW (Native American Tourism of Wisconsin) as their social media specialist and WIA, Inc., as their tech administrator handling their social media and website.
“Art is an expression from the world surrounding the artist. Art is everywhere and for us artist, we create from our world, our experiences, from stories we have heard, from others experiences and the people we meet. The world is constantly evolving and so do we as artist. With every piece of work I create, I become better. I am forever changing and growing. Thank you for stopping by my little spot in the world. Feel free to contact me.”
EDUCATION
Southeastern Louisiana University – B.A. of Art Education & Masters in Educational Technology Integration
Various College’s – 15 Credit hours in Technology Integration
UWGB – Grant Writing Certification
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Native American Museums
NCAI – National Congress of American Indians
AAIA – Association on American Indian Affairs
WIEA – Wisconsin Indian Education Association
WEAC – Wisconsin Education Association Council
NEA – National Education Association
IACA – Indian Arts and Crafts Association
TOTA – Trail of Tears Association (Alabama Division)
SRTAG – State Recognized Artists Guild
EXPERIENCE
The Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama – Tecnology Specialist (Current)
NATOW (Native American Tourism Of Wisconsin) – Social Media Specialist (2022)
Woodland Indian Art, Inc. : Board Member (2018 – 2022) and Technology Specialist (2018 – 2022)
Art Educator & Technology Training Specialist:
Various churches & organizations – Set designer
East Baton Rouge Parish School System – Art Educator
Oneida Tribe – Art Specialist and Art Teacher
Unified School District of De Pere – Technology Specialist & Art Educator
Self Employed – Artist, Storyteller and Technology Specialist
(Artist, Art Educator, Woodland Presenter & Educator, Storyteller and Motivational Speaker)
Commissioned artist for special projects, book covers, illustrations, murals, etc.
Native American Storyteller and Presenter:
Local Elementary Schools and High Schools
Living History Events – Midwest and Southern States
Museums and Libraries
Organizations & Events
2016 – First Native American Artist to have a single artist showing at the Capital One Gallery in D.C.
2016 – Published “Coloring Our Traditions: A Native American Themed Coloring Book“
2016 – 2020 Work displayed and sold at Turtle Island Gifts
2017- Winning artist for the National Congress of American Indians Conference
2017 – Commissioned to create art for the 2017 Tribal Self Governance Conference
2017 – Painting “Smoke Dancers” hangs at the Alabama Indian Affairs Commission
2018 – One of Two artist shown in Minneapolis
2019 – Designed a cover for a Native American written published book.
2020 – Painting “Disc Rattlesnake” hangs at the Oakville Mound
2020 – Awarded a grant and started a digital art program for Foxview Intermediate School
2021 – Awarded a Dollars for Art Grant and started digital art program for the Native American community.
2022 – Social Media Specialist for NATOW
– Published “Coloring Fun: Drawings from original paintings by Weeya Calif“
– Awarded Teacher of Distinction for Green Bay, Wisconsin
– Rahr West Museum – Stolen Sisters Exhibition
– Eiteljorg Museum – Indian Market & Festival
– The Miller Museum – 47th Juried Annual Exhibition
– Awarded The Golden Apple Award
– Artist Spotlighted for the Oneida Nation Arts Program
– The Miller Museum Art Exhibit
– The Art Garage – “2022 Year in Review” art exhibit
– Sage Gallery – “Art As Resistance” art exhibit
2023 – The Miller Museum – 48th Juried Annual Exhibition
– “Where Will Art Take Me” (Solo Artist on Exhibition) Pablo Center for the Confluence
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2016 – Present Tribal tech specialist for the Echota Cherokee Tribe of Alabama and the official storyteller for the tribe
2018 – 2022 Tech specialist for Woodland Indian Art, Inc. (WIA, Inc.), Artist
2016 – Present Teaches art classes to organizations and digital art classes to the youth
2000 – Present Work on display and sold at Chief Oshkosh
Weeya Calif meets the requirements of the Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990. She complies with the Indian Arts and crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644). The Indian Arts and Crafts Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-644) is a truth-in-advertising law that prohibits misrepresentation in marketing of Indian arts and crafts products within the United States.
THE ACT DEFINES INDIAN AS , “A MEMBER OF ANY FEDERALLY OR OFFICIALLY STATE RECOGNIZED INDIAN TRIBE, OR AN INDIVIDUAL CERTIFIED AS AN INDIAN ARTISAN BY AN INDIAN TRIBE.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THIS ACT, READ THE BROCHURE BELOW OR VISIT:
https://www.doi.gov/iacb/act
Official Native American Member of the Indian Arts & Craft Association. See listing. (Listed under former name of Weeya Smith on page 25.)
