This article was on Aug. 5, 2024, and is republished here with permission.
Autumn Harry is a ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì, Reno alumna, a member of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe, a devoted Indigenous rights advocate, and a fly-fishing guide for her business, Kooyooe Pa’a Guides. She recently finished painting a four-panel mural on the University campus, between the Pennington Student Achievement Center and the Ansari Business Building that depicts Pyramid Lake, some of the fish and plants that live there, and some of the people who helped fight for the lake’s protection.
The mural, painted on a four-panel wall located right in the center of campus, commemorates the University’s 150 years as a university, at a time when the Office of Indigenous Relations is working to increase Indigenous representation on campus. Among Autumn’s, goals, she said, were to help people understand the Truckee River watershed and to recognize the Paiute and Washoe people who have worked to protect the water and the land.
This is Autumn’s second mural. Her first was installed on a temporary plywood structure outside of the Patagonia Outlet in downtown Reno as part of a beautification project during the COVID pandemic shutdown in 2020. It is now inside, in the stairwell. To get the University commission, she submitted a letter of intent, a letter of interest, and some sample artwork to the Office of Indigenous Relations. She made it past the initial cut and produced a design that resonated with the committee.
“Growing up on the reservation definitely influenced my artistic career,” Autumn said. “I have artists in my family, and my art is heavily influenced by my upbringing. Being a fly-fishing guide, fish are important to me and my community, so they’re represented in almost all my pieces, including trout and cui-ui. Water is a big component as well. Growing up at Pyramid Lake, at the terminal end of the watershed, we see so many impacts. I also have a master’s in geography, which influences my perspective.”
One of the mural’s panels features silhouettes of prominent Northern Paiute, Western Shoshone, and Washoe tribe members including Western Shoshone land rights activists Mary and Carrie Dann; Corbin Harney, a Western Shoshone leader who dedicated his life to ending nuclear testing on Native land; and Autumn’s father, Norm Harry, former chairman of the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe and a longtime water rights activist.
Autumn plans to work on more murals in the future, advocate for Native voices on campus, and bring attention to the Pyramid Lake Paiute Tribe.
“Completing a project this size is impactful,” she said. “It reasserts our space at the university, reclaiming a place that has always been ours despite settler colonialism. I hope future students can see themselves represented in this artwork and feel connected to our communities. Art is a powerful way to bring visibility to Indigenous issues and remind people of our ongoing connection to these areas. There are many issues we’re involved with, and art can bring attention to them. It shows our joy and dedication to protecting our communities for future generations. I’m excited about continuing to create art, including for my business. I have a lot of momentum right now, which is exhilarating.”
Autumn Harry is giving a talk on Tuesday, Aug. 5 at 6 p.m. in the Holman Art and Media Center at the ÇéÉ«ÎåÔÂÌì, Reno at Lake Tahoe, 1008 Tahoe Blvd., Incline Village.
The talk will also be streamed. You can here. Or find the link in the bio of .
The mural unveiling celebration is expected to take place in September. The date and time are to be determined.
