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The native boy who is squatting down, painting on the canvas, may be trying to communicate with a native who does not speak the same language or dialect as him. The artist of this painting, Monroe Frederick, was known for painting both people of the Navajo and Hopi groups so it is possible they are trying to communicate with each other with something else other than spoken language. They also could be painting something they are looking at right in front of them, such as an animal or other native people. It was common for natives to use animal hides as canvases for their art, which is what it looks like the boys are using here.