Name: Parfleche Painting: Plains Indians Design
Start: 2026-03-07T10:00:00-07:00
End: 2026-03-07T14:00:00-07:00
Location: 100 W 14th Ave Pkwy, Denver, CO, United States, Colorado 80204

Parfleche Painting: Plains Indians Design

This 1-day Creative Class workshop will explore the Indigenous design practice of parfleche. The name parfleche was initially used by French fur traders and derives from the French language parer meaning "to parry" or "to defend," and flèche meaning "arrow."
Parfleche was used to describe tough rawhide shields carried by Plains Indian warriors but was later used primarily for decorated rawhide containers. Plains Indian tribes often had an abundant source of hides in the buffalo they hunted, but, as they were nomadic, they had little opportunity to tan the skins. Parfleche, or rawhide, was prepared by cleaning and dehairing the skin and then by stretching it and allowing it to dry in the sun. This process created a stiff but durable leather that was used for many items, including bags, boxes, envelopes, and war shields. Designs historically consisted of geometric shapes and symbols in primary colors. Today, many contemporary Plains Indian artists evolved the idea of parfleche by making earrings, bracelets, wallets, etc. Students will explore parfleche techniques and create their own keychain or earrings using their newfound knowledge.
About the educator:
Danielle SeeWalker is Húŋkpapȟa Lakȟóta and citizen of the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe in North Dakota. She is a fine artist, muralist, writer, activist, and boymom of two, based in Denver, Colorado. Her visual artwork often incorporates the use of mixed media and experimentation while incorporating traditional Native American materials, scenes, and messaging. Her artwork pays homage to her identity as a Lakȟóta wíŋyaŋ (woman) and her passion to redirect the narrative to an accurate and insightful representation of contemporary Native America while still acknowledging historical events.
Alongside her passion for creating visual art, Danielle is a freelance writer and published her first book in 2020 titled, “Still Here: A Past to Present Insight of Native American People & Culture.” She is also very dedicated to staying connected and involved in her Native community and has served as a mayoral appointed City Commissioner for the Denver American Indian Commission since 2019. Danielle has also been working on a personal, passion project since 2013 with her long-time friend called The Red Road Project. The focus of the work is to document, through words and photographs, what it means to be Native American in the 21st century by capturing inspiring and positive stories of people and communities within Indian Country.
Ticket required, discount for members, Museum Friends, and students.
Pricing: $95 for Museum Friends, $100 for Members and Students, and $110 for nonmembers.*
*Price includes a $30 studio fee for all materials provided.
Learn more and register here: https://www.denverartmuseum.org/en/calendar/creative-classes-parfleche-painting