Valery Killscrow Copeland
Honoring Women
As artists, we guide 40 intergenerational Indigenous women and their children in crafting traditional regalia, blending intricate sewing and artisanal skills with personal narratives. This initiative not only cultivates artistry but also fosters healing and empowerment by weaving together individual stories, shared traumas, and triumphs through the lens of Indigenous craft traditions. Our holistic approach strengthens personal and community resilience, culminating in fashion shows at the Joslyn Art Museum and Creighton University's Lied Education Center for the Arts. Timed with National Native American Awareness Month, these events celebrate cultural identity and continuity.
About the Artist
I’m an enrolled member of the Oglala Sioux Tribe. I grew up mainly in Omaha, but my parents were adventurous and liked to travel so in my youth we lived in numerous towns and cities across the country. I got to live in many new places such as Denver Colorado, Salt Lake City Utah, Scottsbluff & Lincoln Nebraska, Seattle Washington & Pine Ridge South Dakota. On my own I lived in Killeen Texas & Albany New York. However, Nebraska is my home because most of my family and friends are here.
My mother was a talented painter, and my father was a talented beadwork artist. He was in the Army before he met my mother. I’m very fortunate that they shared their talents with me and taught me their incredible skills. Both my parents are deceased.
I have a bachelor’s degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha, I graduated Magna Cum Laude, in Studio Arts 2002 with a concentration in graphic design. I was in the Phi Theta Kappa National Honors Society. I have a minor in Native American Studies 2001 from UNO. I received the Josephine Bail Scholarship, and I received a Certificate of Excellent, Multicultural Affairs, UNO. I have an associate degree from Metropolitan Community College in Professional Studies 1997. I graduated, Gold Key National Honors Society. In 1997 I won a Nebraska graphic design award. In 2012 I won a Great Plains Art Museum Exhibition Award for my sculptural piece.
I’m married to my husband Bill and we just celebrated or 30th wedding anniversary. I have 2 grown children, a son and a daughter. From my son Derek, I have 3 grandchildren.
I’m an artist, playwright, author, beadwork artist, regalia maker and powwow dancer. In the past I’ve instructed beadwork classes at the Joslyn Art Museum, Boys Town and other educational institutions teaching Native American Beadwork and artwork classes. I worked at Lincoln Public Schools in Indian Education for 7 ½ years. Currently, I’m the coordinator for Native American Prime Time Family Reading. It’s a family literacy program for our Native American families funded by Humanities Nebraska it has been going on since 2012. We’re all very proud of our success in that program. It’s the longest and now only Native American Prime Time Family Reading program in the nation and our goal is to change that. We want to encourage other Native American communities to start their own Prime Time Family Reading.
In the arts, I work mostly in beadwork and Native American regalia making but I also have a passion for painting. I love to paint political art, community art and Midwestern art and furniture. Since 1999 we’ve offered a free Native American beading class for community members and open to all people. My father Lester Kills Crow was the person who started that class and since he made his journey in 2013, my sister and I have continued the free class in his honor. You can find us on Facebook at Lester’s Beading Class. I try to offer my knowledge to the community as my father did.
