Gaawii wiika ndanendiziin yaawyaanh.

(I will never forget who I am.)

I am on a journey of self-discovery and am still uncovering who I am and where I came from. I have always been proud of my heritage and have lived my life in a way I pray is appeasing to my Ancestors. Through my journey of finding myself, I have claimed victory over substance abuse and have survived unimaginable traumas. As someone who grew up separated from my Indigenous community in a settler Christian world I always struggled with self-identity. I know who my ancestors are, but I grew up feeling disconnected. I have struggled with Christianity versus Spirituality my entire life. It wasn’t until I learned to speak to my Ancestors through Dream Time that they told me it is ok to be both, to pray to God and my Ancestors. It is ok that according to the government my blood quantum is not the proper level to be qualified as an Indigenous person. That inaccurate description of who I am does not define me, as the blood running through my veins is that of my settler as well as Indigenous Ancestors.  

I came up with the idea for this piece when thinking about how I communicate with my Ancestors through my dreams and how thankful I am for all that they and our Earth Mother have given me. I used a dreamcatcher as inspiration and used the hide from my father’s last kill to show gratitude to the buck that provided for my family so that it may live eternally through art. I included the four Sacred Medicines into this artwork: sage, cedar, sweet grass and tobacco. I wanted to be true to myself and my roots by creating something meaningful and special out of ingredients that speak to my soul. Chi miigwech (thank you so much) for viewing my work and taking the time to read about it.

I am an artist 

I am honest

I am brave 

I do not behave

Happy joyous and free

I’m proud to be me

Strong in sobriety

Growing tirelessly

I am my Ancestors’ kin 

Happy in my own skin

Their blood runs in my veins 

I’m breaking generational chains

A strong lineage 

Learning their language

1st gen descendant

Blood quantum resentment

Not a card carrier

Still an Indigenous warrior 

Suicide survivor 

Mental health fighter

Loved by many

Worth every penny