Geo Soctomah Neptune facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Geo Neptune
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| Niskapisuwin | |
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| Born | 1988 (age 36–37) |
| Nationality | American, Passamaquoddy Tribe |
| Education | Indian Township School, Gould Academy, Dartmouth College |
| Known for | black-ash basketry, Indigenous rights activism, Drag performance |
| Elected | Indian Township School Board |
Geo Soctomah Neptune is a talented artist, activist, and educator from the Passamaquoddy Tribe in Indian Township, Maine. They are known for their amazing basket making, storytelling, and work to help their community. Geo Neptune uses they/them pronouns.
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Becoming a Master Basket Maker
Geo Neptune went to Gould Academy and then studied theater at Dartmouth College. After college, they decided not to become an actor in New York City. Instead, they returned home to their community.
Geo wanted to help at schools on the reservation. They also started learning traditional basket making. Their grandmother, Molly Neptune Parker, was a master basket weaver. She taught Geo many skills.
Learning from a Grandmother
Geo started asking their grandmother to teach them basket weaving when they were only four years old. Their grandmother told them to wait until they were older. So, Geo found another elder who taught them.
Geo then showed their grandmother the first basket they made. Later that year, after turning five, Geo wove their first basket with their grandmother. This was the start of a lifelong journey. Geo is now a master basket maker, just like their grandmother, who passed away in June 2020.
Geo's Unique Basket Style
Geo Neptune began to try new ideas with their family's special woven flowers. They mixed these with natural things like twigs and branches. This led to their own unique style of basket making. Their baskets are often whimsical, elegant, and still use traditional methods.
Passamaquoddy baskets have been made from many different materials. These include birch, basswood, maple, spruce, and cedar. Today, brown ash, also called black ash, is very important for baskets.
Long ago, the Passamaquoddy people were hunters and gatherers. They moved with the seasons. They used bark, wood, and tree roots from the forests. They also used sweetgrass and cattails from wetlands. With these, they made useful bags, boxes, and other containers.
Later, a new tradition started: "fancy baskets." These were decorative baskets sold to tourists. Men usually made the useful baskets, and women made the fancy ones. For Geo, weaving baskets with their grandmother and other women in their tribe was very special. It helped them understand their identity as a two-spirit person.
In February 2021, Geo Neptune received a $50,000 award from United States Artists. This award recognized their great work in black ash basketry. Geo plans to keep working in traditional arts to honor their grandmother. They also continue to work in other art forms, like drag performance, hand-poke tattooing, and jewelry making.
Art Exhibitions
Geo Neptune's beautiful baskets have been shown in art galleries.
- "You Can't Get There From Here: 2015 Portland Museum of Art Biennial" was at the Portland Museum of Art in Maine. It ran from October 8, 2015, to January 3, 2016.
- "Sharing Honors and Burdens: Renwick Invitational 2023" is at the Renwick Gallery Smithsonian Institution. It opened on May 26, 2023, and will close on March 31, 2024.
Community and Identity
Geo Neptune is also a strong advocate for Indigenous rights. They found their calling as an activist during the "Idle-No-More" movement. This was an international movement for Native rights that started in Canada. It spread worldwide to fight against unfair treatment of Native people and their lands.
Understanding Two-Spirit Identity
The term two-spirit is used by some Indigenous people. It became more common in the 1990s. This term helps Indigenous people describe gender and sexual identities in ways that connect to their own cultures. It also helps them reject colonial ideas about gender. In 2018, Geo Neptune made a video to help explain the meaning of two-spirit.
Drag Performance
In 2006, Geo Neptune began performing as their drag persona, "Lyzz Bien."
Serving on the School Board
In September 2020, Geo Neptune made history. They became the first openly transgender person elected to public office in Maine. They were elected to the school board in Indian Township. They were also the first two-spirit person to run for any office in the state.
On the school board, Geo Neptune wants to help students and teachers learn more about Passamaquoddy culture. They also want to help bring back the native language.
