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This artwork was inspired by the artist’s lived experience and a legend about a petroglyph
at Skokomish. It is dedicated to the memory of her son and the survivors of victims
of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and People. Long ago at Enatai, a beach at
Skokomish, a man was filled with enormous grief. He sat on the beach and carved the
face of a Thunderbird onto a boulder. It is said that if someone lifted the stone and shook
it, the skies would open and Thunderbird would come down, bringing storms.Label
Matriarch crying singing prayer songs at the loss of her son, wrapped in a woven robe with lightning designs. An ancient design used on items for healing. Orca dorsal fin filled with the ancient basketry design of salmon gills and an old Salish spirit face, in water. Thunderbird in flight, bringing the storms. These are the tears of the star people.
We are all one being, all beings. One heartbeat, one breath, one song. When we cry the Thunderbird cries. When we sing the Orca sings. We are these lands and waters. What we do to these lands and waters we do to ourselves.
Humans have bought into the myth of separateness. Which allows us to hurt one another and all of Mother Earth in ways that are breaking sacred vows within us all. We all have a responsibility to live in harmony with our Mother Earth and Sister Sky. To make sure we don't become an invasive species.
This piece was inspired by my lived experience and an old legend about a petroglyph at Skokomish. And dedicated to the survivors of victims of MMIWP.
Long ago at Enatai, a beach at Skokomish, a man was filled with enormous grief. He sat on the beach and carved the face of a Thunderbird into a large boulder. It is said that if someone would lift the stone and shake it, the skies would open up and thunderbird would come down and bring the storms.