Everyone deserves the same experience. Many Indigenous cultures share the belief that we come from the stars, that we are made of stars. We already know the constellation of events that need to happen to have healthy moms and healthy babies. What is the perfect constellation that will help us pull down the stars for future generations?
The rivers of the Pacific Northwest shone silver with the number of salmon that used to swim them, you could walk across the river on the backs of the fish. This was the abundance and vitality of these lands prior to settler contact. It feels immeasurable at times, what we have lost. And reclaiming Indigenous lifeways and culture, it feels like this sometimes. Maybe you can weave, or know your songs, maybe you speak your language, or breastfeed, or know how to make a cradleboard. Each practice feels like one or two fish in what used to be a river teaming, impossibly full, with many fish. And it is not this way for all but for many urban Indigenous especially, this can be so.
And this is why we tell stories. To call back the salmon, to call back the stars. To call back the babies to their mother’s breasts. We tell these stories first and foremost for us, for the people. To remember, to call back, to sing back, the vitality and the immeasurability of the worth and value of Indigenous mamas and children. That they know they are enough, that we trust them to know that is best for their children and future generations, and that every parent is the perfect parent for their baby.
Application now open! Due September 15th at 5pm.
See below for details.
Ready to apply? Visit our application here.
We are reclaiming our stories and practices surrounding birth through storytelling projects that aim to confront the erasure and invisibility that contributes to the disproportionate health inequities and disparities that are part of the ongoing genocide of Indigenous peoples of Turtle Island.
The Indigenous Storytelling Artist Residency is a project of Hummingbird Family Services' (HIFS) Storytelling Program. The artist in residence will work with families our organization serves. While not a traditional residency in the sense that we provide housing, we will provide up to $30,000 to cover living costs and supplies for the artist in residence for three months. See below for more details!
During the residency, the artist or art collective will hold storytelling classes with our families and create art aligned with traditional cultural values on pregnancy and parenting.
Storytelling can take many forms - it can be dance, weaving or other traditional crafts, oral or written narratives, quilting, fabric arts, and more. We welcome interdisciplinary and multimedia artists across disciplines to apply.
Competitive candidates will propose at least three workshops during their residency, and create 1-2 original pieces (depending on size and medium). Proposed workshops and pieces must be aligned with HIFS mission and values.
These artists will retain the rights to the pieces, but Hummingbird will maintain the rights to use them for our organization and if agreeable to the artist, will be shown in a final art exhibit with all residents at the end of our residency program.
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Artists who identify as Two-Spirit, Queer, Transgender, Nonbinary, Women, Disabled, Parents are highly encouraged to apply!
Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services Mission and Vision
Healthy Indigenous babies being born into healthy Indigenous families being supported by healthy Indigenous communities.
At Hummingbird Indigenous Family Services (HIFS), we believe that attachment and culture are the foundations of healthy communities and that through rematriation we can heal historical trauma.
Through culturally relevant support during the perinatal period, we reduce the personal, cultural, and systemic barriers that disproportionately affect Indigenous parents while strengthening the bond between parents and connections to the community.
HUMMINGBIRD NEST & STORYTELLING PROJECT
The Nest is a guaranteed income pilot that launched in July 2023. It provides no-strings-attached monthly payments to 150 Indigenous pregnant people until their child’s third birthday.
We believe that Indigenous mamas are enough and they deserve to honor their reproductive destinies, support their community, and raise their children in healthy and thriving environments. Through the Hummingbird Nest, we believe we can support our families in achieving this vision. Every person deserves to live with dignity and have their basic needs met.
The Storytelling Project was developed alongside the Nest to create strategic narratives on the benefits of guaranteed income as a race equity practice, on the inherent dignity and value of Indigenous parenting, and to support policy change and local, state, and National levels.
“I feel like when we look back, we're rooted in connection. We have our village. And I think that's something that if we build on that, bringing that back like actually having a village because I feel like a lot of people are like, oh, I need to be able to do this on my own.”
Community Member & Mama
Applicants must be 18 and older to apply.
One artist or one artist group/collective.
3 months. For 2024, it will take place January through March 2024
No. We do not have a physical space or studio for artists to work or stay in, however up to 60% of the award may be used for for living expenses and 40% for artists labor, materials, residency workshops (including participant costs, food, childcare, etc), studio space, etc.
Hummingbird IFS also has access to community spaces that artists can use and has a small budget that can contribute to workshop and participant costs.
The artist in residence will create art, workshops and work with families our organization serves. The artist in residence will lead 3 monthly workshops with the families through the Nest Guaranteed Income Program. They will also create 1-2 pieces of art during the residency. The art and family workshops must align with traditional cultural values on pregnancy and parenting and Hummingbird’s Mission and Vision. The artist in residence will receive support and guidance from our Storytelling Manager.
