Annette S. Lee

The Cosmos As Viewed Through the Lens of a Native-American Astronomer-Artist

Abstract

In Ojibwe the Morning Star is called ‘kwe Anung’, (Women’s Star). In D(L)akota the same planet, Venus, is called ‘Anpetu Luta’ (Red Star). Both cultures have rich and interesting understandings of Venus that relate to other indigenous cultures throughout the world. Yet tragically the Native American star knowledge is disappearing. My research and programming, ‘Native Skywatchers’, focuses on revitalizing the Ojibwe and D(L)akota star knowledge and bringing it back to our communities. Ojibwe elder, Paul Schultz, shared this vision of the native star knowledge returning, especially through the youth. He called them ‘star readers’.
As an astronomer, I am deeply inspired by and fascinated by the cosmos. As an artist, I am passionately engaged in creating art that aids in our perception of the cosmos, to see things that can’t or aren’t seen by the naked eye by most people today. This might be native constellations like ‘Maang’ (Loon) or ‘Wakiyan’ (Thunderbird) or patterns in the motion of celestial objects, like the Dance of Venus….or it might be the teaching of ‘Kapemni’ (As it is above; it is below.) Looking at the cultural and historical knowledge, specifically the Ojibwe and D(L)akota star knowledge, remembering it and honoring it, I use it to inspire the present and guide the future.
I will present here selected paintings that speak to the idea of transforming the human experience through a relationship with the cosmos as viewed through the lens of a native-American astronomer-artist.

Biography

Annette Lee is an astrophysicist and artist who leads the Native Skywatchers research project, which seeks out and celebrates indigenous peoples' connection to the stars. She works closely with Ojibwe and D(L)akota elders and community members to document Native star knowledge. Currently Annette is an Associate Professor of Astronomy & Physics at St. Cloud State University (SCSU) in St. Cloud, Minnesota and Director of the SCSU Planetarium.
B.S. Applied Mathematics, 1992 University of California-Berkeley; B.A. Painting 1998 University Illinois-Urbana; M.F.A. Painting 2000 Yale University; MS Astrophysics 2008 Washington University-St. Louis; Academic specialties include extrasolar planets, Native American star knowledge, science/math education.