"It sounds fun and funny: Native artists riff off their favorite TV shows that feature Indians, such as the "Seinfeld" episode when Jerry buys Elaine a cigar store Indian. "It's Not TV, It's Indians!" would be the first-ever piece of performance art at the National Museum of the American Indian.

Yet here is Skeena Reece, of Métis, Cree, Tsimshian and Gitskan heritage, wearing a nurse's uniform and menacingly tapping an oversize syringe against her palm.

She glares at the crowd seated in the Rasmuson Theater.

"This looks like a sick audience." Tap, tap. "Does anyone want to share any feelings you have about being a colonizer?" Nervous chuckles from the Sunday museum-going, mostly white audience. They are perhaps wondering how this relates to the "Moesha" Thanksgiving episode featuring a Native American convenience store owner that they just watched. Reece then lies on a black-sheathed table, while a white male artist places a small bucket of red paint between her splayed legs. He paints one of Columbus's ships on a large board as Reece speaks about sexual fetishes, fear of government and the inaccurate portrayal of Indians on television.

Museum Director Kevin Gover was one of the 200 or so people in the audience. He later suggested "it will be a while" before Reece performs there again."

Get the Story:
Arts Beat: Needled by Performance Art (The Washington Post 11/6)