Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota

Janice Albro is an enrolled member of the Sisseton-Wahpeton Sioux Tribe of South Dakota. She was born at Claremore, Oklahoma Indian Hospital and is the daughter of Bessie Bigtalk Trowbridge, a full blood Dakota Indian from the Lake Traverse Reservation of Sisseton, South Dakota. She began drawing and painting as a child, but only recently began to pursue her love of art full time. She has shown her work throughout the Midwest winning numerous prestigious awards. Now an accomplished artist, Janice Albro’s paintings and sculptures are now in many private collections and museums.

Just as intense as her desire to sculpt is Janice’s love of dancing. She is an accomplished Jingle Dress dancer and has traveled to many states throughout the country dancing in competition and has been honored to serve as Head Lady Dancer at numerous pow wows. The dance has inspired her series of powerful bronzes that capture the incredible feeling of being in the sacred circle dancing to the beat of the drum that echoes the heartbeat of a people who have survived for more than 500 years. In her words, “It is an indescribable sensation of happiness, reverence and respect to dance for the elders and those who can no longer dance. You can sense the inherent pride of our ancestors as many of the songs they sang long ago still ring out.” Besides her love of art work and dancing, Janice is also an avid seamstress who, not only makes her own ceremonial clothing, but also makes dance outfits for family and friends.

Through her work, Janice shares a small part of her heritage, its arts, traditions, social customs, ancestral and spiritual beliefs. It is her hope that her creations will truly be a reflection of what her grandfather, “Eyahotanka” might have envisioned in a time past.