2024 Conference Theme
N A R R AT I V E
Meet the Artist
Sydni Moses Tribal Affiliations: Cherokee Nation, Navajo Nation, and student
Connecting Communities to Create Change We have been blessed by our culture and our ability to keep our ways alive. We strive to always represent who we are and who we stand for. We are connected through language, medicine, clothing, and our steps. Our ancestors walked for us, so we did not have to. Blue symbolizes the water flow we have in our lives. If we have a strong flow, then we are strong enough to give life to others. The bloodroot flowers symbolize our strength. This
Cherokee Nation
flower was used for many different remedies, but it also shows our enduring nature and our ancestral blood. We are all connected by blood. The clay hands represent our hardships. The left hand is strong, healthy, thriving. The hand can hold and grow flowers. It clenches the necklace with a strong grip. The hand on the right struggles. It could be strong. Some hands are broken more than others. The hand on the right is withering and breaking towards the wrist, but the fingertips begin to come to life. Growth starts to happen, and the color begins to change and spread. The blood root begins to blossom onto the fingertips. The necklace strap hangs from the hand loosely to symbolize the meaning of a low current. Even though the hand is broken we still hold the necklace. Our love tribe gives us the ability to hold the necklace. Even if it is not a strong grip. We still hold it. It is our job to keep our water flow moving and thriving within one another. There are many communities with different flows with different capacity and strength, but we must remember: We are all still one in blood. The medicine bag was a gift given to me by my parents. The medicine bag connecting the hands represents our union. By holding onto the necklace, we heal one another. The medicine bag symbolizes our ability to repair each other. We hold our tribes together by healing those who need it. We all go through different paths and trials, but if we have the strength to hold onto the medicine bag, we will heal. The trail in the background represents our past and future, and to the sides corn bead plants grow. We use these plants in our jewelry to remember the tears that were shed on the Trail of Tears. Our ancestors went through trials that left them with wounds and not enough tears to cry. Despair, anger, sadness, sorrow, and wounds were mended together through our strengths. Our tribes became one. The blanket represents the comfort we have for one another. We may feel broken and alone, but we have our blanket to remind us we are never alone. The strong water flow gives us strength to connect and unite others. It does not matter what paths we have, how many tears we cry, or how broken we believe we are. Together, we can create change through any person’s life. Healing one person at a time.