About Itsooaakii

Biography of Evelyn Mikayla Martin (Itsooaakii)

Evelyn Mikayla Martin (Itsooaakii) [Blackfeet Tribe of Montana] graduated with honors with her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington (Seattle, WA) in American Indian Studies with a minor in Gender, Women, and Sexuality Studies. Mikayla was named to the University of Washington Dean’s List, a member of the National Collegiate Scholars Honor Society and a member of the National Society of Leadership and Success.

Mikayla is an art educator and visual artist that works to center her own personal narrative regarding the processes of navigating mental health, cultural identity, and reclamation of space as a Piikani’aakii (Blackfeet woman) in 2021. She creates acclaimed vibrant self-portraits, billboards, and projects of reclamation.

Mikayla was selected to be one of the keynote speakers of the Women’s March Seattle (January 2019). During the march, Mikayla spoke about immediately initiating an action plan for all people to join forces to end the global crisis of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.

Mikayla has worked as a visual arts teacher and developed numerous workshops for Indigenous youth that include culturally-relevant arts education curricula. In 2015, Mikayla was selected by the National Art Education Association as the National High School Artist of the Year: Rising Stars Program.