Lineages

I am a Middle-American Indigenous person, growing up third-culture, rural and poor. When I was 15 I realized I had an indigenous lineage (Ngigua) and immediate ties. My Anishinabe kin help me rediscover my long assimilated ties. I attempt to embody what it means to be transnational, from the Global South and of the LatAm diaspora. I approach my work just as it was brought to me then, through grief yet deep love, compassion and dignity.

Witnessing the mass violence onto original bodies of knowledge and bodies of my people and of indigenous people round the world, lead me to the world of Transformative Justice, with my early teachers being Mia Mingus and Adrienne Marie Brown. However as Bayo Akomolafe has reminded me, indigenous knowledge isn’t necessarily the answer to our modern anxieties nor does it live in the past nor as a stagnant creed. Our conflicts exist presently and queerly—as to queer the very idea of violence, of knowledge and of indigeneity. I could not do this work without my somatic teachers: B Stepp, James-Olivia Chu Hillman, Betty Martin, Lakshmi Nair, Mia Schachter, Leonie Smith, Miyuki Baker, Kai Cheng Thom and Madison Nees. The endless books on the topic and those who dare to heal.

As an information worker and Galleries, Libraries, Archives, Museums (GLAM) professional, I could not be as confident in this industry without being an active member of We Here.

Artist Statement

My work delves into the intricate tapestry of diasporic and collective memory, exploring the intersections of art, craft, and class dynamics. By reimagining the narratives within archives, I treat them as living muses that inform and inspire my creations.

I aim to create a dialogue between the personal and the collective, highlighting how our identities are shaped by both visible and invisible forces. Through traditional crafts, I emphasize the contributions of artisans and laborers, underscoring the importance of class in art.

My work is a journey through memory and history, illuminating the connections between the past and present to inspire a deeper understanding of our shared humanity.