Giiwekiiwin: Returning Home
Niiyo-gikinoonowin (four years) ago, my niiji (friend) and I headed to Alaska for my birthday; it was a trip I had bawaazh (dreamed) about for years. We met amazingly miikawaadenim (beautiful) people....
Sam Zimmerman
The Way a Grandmother Holds Us
Ezhi-dakonaawasod gookomis This newest piece celebrates my nookomis (grandmother). I told my indede (dad) recently that I wasn’t sure if I baawaajige (dreamt) about my nookomis (grandmother) or if she visited me. I’ve...
Gookomisag Niimi: She Dances for her Grandmothers
Niimi (She dances) has come to me a few times over the past few months, but I couldn’t see the whole picture she was telling me....
Manidoo Makwa: Spirit Bear
My nindaangoshenh (cousin) shared a wawiiyazh (funny) story about hearing something in the middle of the naakshig (night). She said she woke up a few weeks ago because of an enigok (loud) noise...
Bald Eagle in Flight at Sunrise
Bebaamaashid migizi ani-mooka’aminig I saw a migizi (bald eagle) launch itself from a zhingwaak (pine tree) when wiideigemaagan (my boyfriend) and I were driving up to Gichi-Onigaming (Grand Portage) recently for the George...
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....
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...