Natasha Smoke Santiago: Haudenosaunee Pottery and Cooking

This workshop is presented by the School of Art’s ceramics area; hours each day are 9 a.m.-noon and 1-3 p.m.

Natasha Smoke Santiago is a ceramic artist from the Mohawk nation, specializing in the production of various indigenous ceramic functional objects. Santiago is particularly versed in the production of open-fire cooking ware, indigenous firing methods, and Haudenosaunee cuisine. During this four-day hands-on workshop, students will benefit from this unique cultural exchange, as Santiago demonstrates the production of various Haudenosaunee cooking wares, fires in traditional indigenous methods, and cooks traditional Haudenosaunee foods and beverages.

Santiago was born in Rochester, New York, and brought up in Haudenosaunee tradition. Her grandparents were part of a Mohawk diaspora in the mid-20th century who moved to cities like Syracuse, Rochester, Buffalo and New York City following the steel trade. She works in many mediums, chronicling traditional Haudenosaunee culture, contemporary life, the miracle of pregnancy, and the beauty of the natural world. Santiago is one of a handful of artists, historians, and living history enthusiasts attempting to resurrect and further elevate the Iroquoian style of pottery. In spring 2023 she was one of the leading demonstrators at the annual National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA) convention, where she shared her craft for more than one thousand spectators.