The Tale of the Duck Valley
The Tale of the Duck Valley
- Creator: Ashley Quist
- Date: 2024
- Location: 11th St between W Bannock St & W Idaho St, West Sidewalk
- Types: murals (any medium), reproductions (derivative objects), utility box wraps
- Materials: ink, vinyl, acrylic paint, oil paint (pigmented coating)
- Collection: Traffic Box Wraps
This artwork addresses the enduring legacy of water rights disputes affecting Indigenous peoples since the onset of displacement. Through acrylics, oils, and folklore in a realistic style, it emphasizes the need to protect all elements of the natural world—air, water, earth, and habitats—to foster meaningful change. Set on the Duck Valley Reservation, home to the Paiute and Shoshone tribes (Sho-Pai), the piece highlights their struggles with water equity, accessibility, and protection amidst water displacement, hazardous waste dumping, and mining operations. These issues have severely impacted fisheries, wildlife habitats, and downstream communities. Drawing on the Sho-Pai creation legend, the painting depicts Coyote and the Big Woman with a single drop of water left in her basket, surrounded by pollution. It also references Jack Malotte's 1983 work “Don't Dump On Us,” which illustrates the ongoing hazardous waste issues faced by Indigenous communities. Ultimately, this piece conveys that to prevent exploitation, it is essential to recognize the interdependence of all living and non-living entities as a universal truth.
