Lily Painter

Ah-Kee-Hap-Pbay [ah key hop bay ] (Cute Flower Girl in the Kiowa language), is an actress, writer, activitist, video/filmmaker and current freshman at the University of Oklahoma, pursing a degree in Native American Studies and Anthropology. During her senior year at Anadarko High School in Anadarko, OK, she was the class valedictorian and a recipient of the Scholastic Writing Award, presented by the Alliance for Young Artists & Writers, for the excellence and writing of her personal essay & memoir titled, “I Am Not a Dead Piece of History.” She is a member of the Kiowa Tribe of Oklahoma as well as the Winnebago Tribe of Nebraska. Last summer, she was selected to participate inColumbia University’s prestigious creative writing course program in partnership with the Center for Native American Youth. Lily believes that her heritage and the roots of her foundation as a young Indigenous woman are powerful and will strengthen her voice to allow her to speak out on the challenges that impact her community and bring awareness and education about Indigenous culture as well as mainstream issues. Lily is grateful and honored to be chosen as a Remembering our Sisters fellow through the Center for Native American Youth and congratulates other fellows as well.