Fry bread earrings, Elias Jade Not Afraid

Elias Jade Not Afraid’s earrings feature frybread, a food that came about because of the removal and relocation policies of the U.S. government. Natives were given commodity foods as part of their treaty negotiations and they used flour, baking soda, salt, and lard to make a delicious—albeit unhealthy—innovation. While many Natives argue that frybread is not traditional because it did not exist before colonization, others view frybread as a symbol of Native resilience. Not Afraid’s playful elevation of frybread into jewelry showcases Indigenous humor.