The red dress movement is a cause to call attention to the missing indigenous women throughout the United states.  Indigenous women are seven times more likely to be murdered than non-indigenous women.  Fancy shall dancers are said to resemble butterflies.  The shawl is a fringed, colorful, and often beaded or appliquéd adaptation of the traditional women's blanket an extends the length of the dancers wingspan. Being light of foot and "dancing like a butterfly" is delicate footwork- there are no steps that dancers must follow- balance and symmetry is the goal of the dancer's steps.  This dance is a prayer for her missing sisters. 

In the Aaniih culture the eagle represents pride and honor.  The background color is the Aurora Borealis or Northern Lights.  The women represents "Mother Earth" and the collective women of the world as the life-givers.  The eagle is surrounding her to show her honor and protects her as the one that gives life to our planet and all humanity.

This painting represents women leaders in this world that deserve to wear a warrior headdress. 

One of the famous scenes in the movie ”A Man Called Horse” was when Richard Harris hangs from eagle claws piercing his chest from a large center pole in a Sundance ceremony.  This was a spiritual test brings men and women together to pray and fast.  It was a time for renewal for the tribe and the Earth.  In this painting, the tree represents the center pole- the “spiritual center“ that we are looking inward to find. 

This little girl is a jingle dress dancer and dances for her missing mother.  This is connected to the missing and murdered indigenous native women "Red Dress Movement".  The jingle dress dancer is the head women dancer and she is holding a red dress that represents these missing women.  In this painting the jingle dancer is a little girl that represents all the forgotten children of these women.  She dances to honor her mother.

This painting is a message to the world.  The truth is we are all the same.  The yellow background shows how we are part of the sunrise and the sunset.  Next, the teepee represents how family is the most important part of life.  The mouse is a symbol of truth in the Aaniiih (awh-nah-née) culture.  Whereas  the various eyes represent that God is in all of us and sees the world through our eyes in all our diversity including the LGBTQ community.  The various eye colors represent the inclusiveness of all humanity.  Next, the  bear tracks and hummingbird are animals we share the Earth with.  The religious symbols signify    a common love for God or a higher power.  Last, the heart at the top shows that love conquers all

This bright acrylic painting is a representation of how I overcame  depression.  A lot of artists do use art as a form of coping or an outlet for all types of feelings.  I wanted to show the outcome of when I overcame hardships and how it should be celebrated.  The bright colors represent a personal celebration of coming out of a dark place in life and the different shapes and intersecting lines represent how life will still be unpredictable. 

I believe that the universe has a connection to each and every one of us.  When we feel out of touch or come to a cross roads in life, the answer is always in our hearts.  The galaxy is a huge place that is light years away; which represents of how overwhelming life can be at times.  The galaxy heart represents that we have the answers to our problems in our hearts.  Sooner or later, you will come to a decision that you will be at peace with.

I  wanted to bring awareness to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.  The Highway of Tears is a 725-kilometre corridor highway in Canada, which has been the location of many murders and disappearances beginning in 1970. The region is characterized by poverty and, until 2017, lacked adequate public transportation, which forced many locals to resort to hitchhiking as a form of transit.

The exact number of women who have disappeared or been murdered along Highway 16 is disputed.  18 murders and disappearances in its list of Highway of Tears cases, dating from 1969 to 2006.  Ten of these 18 victims are Indigenous women and girls. However, Indigenous groups argue that this number is misleading because it reflects only the disappearances and murders that have happened in the specific geographic areas around these highways and that the real number in Northern British Columbia exceeds 40.  Also  include hundreds  of  Indigenous missing  women  and  girls  in  the  United  States.  No  more  missing  sisters!