Heather Johnston, an Alutiiq/Unangax artist from Alaska, blends traditional Indigenous imagery with contemporary forms on antique maps, sheet music, and historic papers. Her work highlights the deep relationship between people, place, and the natural world. She has earned first place awards at the Heard Museum, and honors at the Southwestern Association for Indian Arts (SWAIA) in Santa Fe. Her art is held in the collections of the Alutiiq Museum, the Newberry Library of Chicago, and the Peabody Institute of Archaeology.

This painting weaves together vibrant layers of blue, purple, and turquoise, symbolizing the lifeblood of rivers flowing across the land. A bold golden line winds its way through the composition, representing both the natural pathways of waterways and the imposed presence of pipelines that cut across and affect Tribal lands. White splatters and fine linear markings evoke maps, infrastructure, and disruption, while the underlying forms echo resilience, strength, and the living spirit of the land. Through its movement and contrast, the piece reflects the balance between beauty and threat - how rivers sustain life for generations, while pipelines risk harm to ancestral homelands and ecosystems. It speaks to both continuity and disruption, honoring Indigenous connections to the land and waters while acknowledging the ongoing challenges to protect them.