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The subject is the artist's nephew, Amani Hayward. He is Black, Mexican and proud Puyallup Tribal Member who is a culture keeper who speaks Twulshootseed. He hunts, fishes, drums, dances, and tells stories. This painting captures Hayward's first experience fishing the same river as his ancestors.Label
"Puyallup Tribal Member Amani Hayward is a painting of my nephew. Amani
is a proud Puyallup, Black, and Mexican teenager. He is a young culture keeper who
speaks Twulshootseed, hunts, fishes, drums, dances, and tells stories. On the banks
of the Puyallup river, this painting captures Amani Hayward's first experience fishing
the same river as his ancestors. Blue skies and lush greenery lining the river as it flows
to the Salish Sea. That summer Amani would help Uncle Archie load up his fishing
boat and learn the ways of his people. His reward would be holding a king after hard
days' work, casting and pulling their net all day floating on the water. Amani's love for
fishing comes from being able to support his people by providing one of the most
valuable resources, food. Fishing is our way of showing respect to our community and
those who fought for our rights to fish. It is our duty to honor our land and water, to
keep our home sacred for our ancestors, for us, and for generations."