Copper Canoe Woman
Rooted Futures Ermine
Rooted Futures Ermine
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A statement that inspired this collection reads, "looking back to look forward." Ironically, it was an AI art account @candydesignai that spurred me to create a collection rooted in ancestral materials and ancient aesthetics. This beautiful account inspired me to "Indigenize" the aesthetic and to incorporate as many Indigenous textile techniques as I could access. I used wool, spun ethically by Indigenous people in South America. My Auntie Shirley excitedly contributed by providing woven square pieces. Collaborating with my auntie is always a joy, as we have so much fun contextualizing and being creative together—a tradition since my childhood. We employed cedar bark weavings to create a laser-cut depiction that mimics the textures. I aimed to include shell buttons, as they are sacred elements in our regalia. Before adopting buttons, we crafted our own designs on woven cedar, hide, and chilkat caps using abalone and dentalium shells. After the colonizers arrived, we began incorporating woolen blankets and buttons to create distinctive crest designs. This collection aims to portray these historical yet modern techniques.
It might seem odd to be inspired by an AI artist to create a collection based on traditional materials, but viewed from an empowered perspective, I would argue that our art is not frozen in time, just as our rights are not frozen in time. Our ancestors adapted materials introduced through trade with European colonizers. What remained unchanged were the designs, stories, and spirit imbued in our work. Our connection to place, each other, and the supernatural remained constant. Regardless of the medium, our connection to our ancestral right to EXIST as tribal people in our homelands persists. We are empowered to narrate our stories through various mediums, and our connection is deep-rooted; it never changes. Though our mediums might evolve, we will persist forever, since time immemorial.
Measurements
23.5-inch width x 30-inch height x 2-inch depth




