Statement:
Some Pacific Northwest Native American women identify three primary stages in life: birth, finding a guardian spirit, and death. The tradition of finding one’s spirit is a rite that forms a common bond within the community, while simultaneously defining an individual’s personal identity. This woman with the Sun spirit only works during the day. When the Sun goes down, she goes to sleep. The Sun is out and she is weaving a traditional tapestry. It contains a blue river that runs off the weaving. Another weaver can start with this river that connects the community through time with a continuous unbroken thread.
Statement:
Some Pacific Northwest Native American women identify three primary stages in life: birth, finding a guardian spirit, and death. The tradition of finding one’s spirit is a rite that forms a common bond within the community, while simultaneously defining an individual’s personal identity. This woman with a turtle guardian spirit carries a little home with her wherever she goes. Understanding the primal need for shelter is important as we grapple with an expanding houseless crisis in our cities.
Statement:
Some Pacific Northwest Native American women identify three primary stages in life: birth, finding a guardian spirit, and death. The tradition of finding one’s spirit is a rite that forms a common bond within the community, while simultaneously defining an individual’s personal identity. This woman with a buffalo or American bison guardian spirit gave a woman she can cross different areas and functions.
Statement:
Some Pacific Northwest Native American women identify three primary stages in life: birth, finding a guardian spirit, and death. The tradition of finding one’s spirit is a rite that forms a common bond within the community, while simultaneously defining an individual’s personal identity.
Statement:
Maíz depicts an indigenous woman who believes that her spirit guide is the Goddess of Maize. She wears symbols on her clothing - water, wind, and sun. These are elements that produce maize, a sacred food for her people. She is using a metate to grind and process the grain for tortillas. She carries her baby with her while she works, wrapped up in a rebozo. It’s important to have an understanding of the food we eat, especially when we have children.
