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.
SONDRA SEGUNDO
Indigenous Storytelling Artist in Residence
Residency January - March 2024
Sondra Segundo-Cunningham is a multi-faceted artist and Haida Language Warrior.She comes from a long, unbroken line of Yahkw Jáanaas (Haida Raven Clan Matriarchs). Her grandparents were both fluent in the Alaskan Haida dialect. From a very young age, Sondra grew up hearing traditional Haida songs as well as gospel songs translated to Xaad kíl with her Elders. They also taught her how to sing harmonies. Now she is passing on this priceless knowledge to the next generations
Sondra is a cultural educator and a published author and illustrator of 3 Haida children’s books. In 2018, she was discovered by tribal band, Khu’éex’ (koo eek) which is based in Seattle and sings in the Tlingit and Haida Languages. She will be featured on their upcoming 2 albums and documentary film "The Magic of Noise" with Khu.éex'. Sondra also produces music with her husband and has released 3 albums. Sondra was fortunate to apprentice with birth speaker Jane Kristovich during the last 5 years of Jane's life. This led Sondra to become the founder, visionary and director of Haida Roots, a non-profit organization that connects local Haida to resources and opens opportunities for sharing
their culture and learning Xaad kíl
sondrasegundo.com
haidaroots.com
During the residency, the artist will hold storytelling classes with our families and create art aligned with traditional cultural values on pregnancy and parenting.
Sondra Segundo will be hosting workshops that explore Indigenous button blanket making, creating Indigenous language children's books and Indigenous lullabies with families.
SAVE THE DATES:
BUTTON BLANKET + INDIGENOUS LANGUAGE CIRCLE
SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 25TH 11:30AM-2:30PM
Register here: tinyurl.com/ButtonBlnkt
INDIGENOUS LULLABY DINNER
FRIDAY, MARCH 29TH 6-8PM
ARTIST RESIDENCY CLOSING CELEBRATION
SUMMER 2024 TBD
This Storytelling Documentary Series was designed with the support of community to share narratives by and for Indigenous parents and birthing people. This series will focus on the creation of The Nest Guaranteed Income Program and bear witness to up to 3 Nest Families throughout their parenting and pregnancy journeys in The Nest Program over the course of 4-5 years.
Stay tuned for our docuseries episodes throughout 2024 with filmmaker Terrence Jeffrey Santos and his film crew from Mr Santos Creations
*photos of Hummingbird Staff from a mini documentary by St. Joseph Community Partnership Fund & filmmaker Terrence Jeffrey Santos
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.
