Jakeli Swimmer (b.1990), is an Eastern Band of Cherokee, EBCI, graphic designer and cartoonist residing on his ancestral homelands in Quallatown, NC. He is the creator of the satirical, observational, and humorous cartoon series Around the Boundary, which has had a steady following on social media among both Native and non-Native people.

“My cartoons derive from personal & everyday life, as well as observations and conversations within my homelands and throughout the larger Native communities. I believe my artistic approach through cartoons allows for the inclusion of feelings, interpretations, and expressions that, in turn, bring needed dialogue, critical thought, acknowledgment, and understanding; but most importantly, I aim to capture humor and laughter. My references often involve the childhood fascination with ‘90s cartoons and comics, but also the reimaging of racial and stereotypical Native cartoon characters I watched in my adolescence. By reclaiming these characters with accurate and contemporary portrayals, I hope to bring a much truer Native representation.”