Mama Bear IV

In this print, Ball incorporates the visual cultures of her African American, Klamath, and Modoc ancestry. This work is part of a series exploring motherhood and blood quantum—the controversial U.S. government system for measuring whether one has enough “Native blood” to claim tribal citizenship. Ball has three children, two of which are tribally enrolled while the other is not. The letters in this work partially spell “bear,” referring to Ball as the mama bear, or protector, of her children. The fonts reference varsity letter jackets and attendant notions of inclusion on an elite team.