Buffalo Carries the Medicine
Mashkiki obimiwidoon awe Mashokde Bizhiki I was recently asked if I had ever painted a bizhiki (buffalo), as they are a respected awesiinh (wild animal) for any Indigenous peoples....
Sam Zimmerman
Smoking Mixture Chickadee
Kinnikinnick gijigijigaaneshiinh When I was a gwiiwizens (boy), imbaabaa (my father) and nimishoomenh (my uncle) took me down to my nimishoomis (my grandfather’s) childhood home in Cannonball Bay, Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage Reservation). They showed me...
Raven, Goes About Crying Out
Gaagaagii babaamademo A niiji (friend) recently shared that when she was driving along Hwy 61, a migizi (bald eagle) was fighting with gaagaagiwag (ravens) over a fresh waawaashkeshi (deer) kill. It reminded me...
Northern Lights Wolves
Naanaate ma’iinganag Last month, I kept having a recurring bawaajigan (dream) of a Ma’iingan (wolf) running at mookise (dawn) and I had to paint it. But it bothered me that it...
Welcome Home
I went home in September to Gichi-onigamiing (Grand Portage) to house sit for a cousin; it was the first time back since my naming. I was a little...
Calling the Pack
Ma’iimgan wiikomaad iniyen owiijima’iinganan I have seen a number of wolves and coyotes lately. This past month, I was heading up to Two Harbors when...
Nimishoomis Mooz (My Grandfather’s Moose)
With this past October and November being a favorite time for hunting either mooz (moose) or bine (grouse), I think of hunting stories shared with me. I have...
Ezhi-gikininjiininang gigashiminaan (The Way a Mother Hugs Us)
What started off as a public art commission to promote breastfeeding quickly became a love letter to my nimaamaa (mother) who has shared stories of her time...
