Roy Boney Jr. facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Roy Boney Jr.
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| ᎧᏂᎦ ᎪᎳᎭ | |
Boney in 2006
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| Born | December 1, 1978 Locust Grove, Oklahoma, U.S.
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| Nationality | Cherokee Nation |
| Education | BFA Oklahoma State University, MA University of Arkansas |
| Known for | Comics, animation, drawing, painting |
Roy Boney Jr. (whose Cherokee name is ᎧᏂᎦ ᎪᎳᎭ) was born on December 1, 1978. He is a talented artist from the Cherokee Nation. Roy creates comics, animation, and paintings. He also works hard to keep the Cherokee language alive. He grew up in Locust Grove, Oklahoma. Roy is a member of the Deer Clan, which is a traditional family group within the Cherokee Nation. In 2024, he was honored as a Cherokee National Treasure. This award celebrates people who are important to Cherokee culture.
Contents
About Roy Boney Jr.
Roy Boney Jr. grew up speaking the Cherokee language. He went to Oklahoma State University and earned a degree in Graphic Design. Later, he received his Master of Arts degree from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock. While there, he was part of the Sequoyah Research Center team. He also received a special award called the Prairie Band Potawatomi Nation Fellowship.
Keeping the Cherokee Language Alive
Roy Boney Jr. is very important in helping to preserve the Cherokee language. He works as the manager of the Cherokee Nation's language program. Before that, he was a language media specialist for the Cherokee Nation. His work helps new generations learn and use the language.
Art and Creativity
Roy Boney Jr. is known for his amazing visual art. He worked with Matthew Shepherd to create a series of graphic novels called Dead Eyes Open. These were published by Slave Labor Graphics.
Besides comics, Roy also creates beautiful drawings and paintings. His first art show was in 2006. At this show, he won the Grand Prize at the Cherokee Heritage Center's Trail of Tears art show. His work was also part of a traveling art show called Frybread and Roses: The Art of Native American Labor. You can see some of Roy's paintings in the permanent collection at the Sequoyah National Research Center.
Animation and Technology
Roy Boney Jr. also uses his skills in animation. He has worked with Joseph L. Erb at the American Indian Resource Center, Inc. Together, they taught animation to children from the Muscogee Creek and Cherokee communities. Their animated films, which often feature Native languages, have won many awards.
Roy and Joseph also created an iPhone app for sending text messages in the Cherokee language. They are also working on creating a Cherokee language social network and even video games! This helps make the language fun and easy to use in modern ways.
Writing and Publications
Roy Boney Jr. also shares his thoughts and art through writing. He often writes for Indian Country Today Media Network and First American Art Magazine. These publications share news and art from Native American communities.
See also
External Sources
- Oral History Interview with Roy Boney Jr.
