Land Acknowledgment

I acknowledge that I live, work, and create on the traditional and ancestral territory of the Lummi Nation, known to themselves as the Lhaq’temish people. For thirty years, I have made my home in Ferndale, Washington, on land that has been stewarded by the Lummi people since time immemorial.

I am Kaa Shaayí, a Tlingit artist from Ketchikan, Alaska. My own people, the Tlingit, come from Southeast Alaska, over 800 miles north of here. While I carry deep respect for Tlingit cultural traditions and work to preserve and share them through my art and teaching, I recognize that I am a guest on Coast Salish territory. The Lummi Nation has welcomed my presence here, and I am grateful for that hospitality.

The Treaty of Point Elliott, signed in 1855, forced the Lummi people to cede much of their ancestral territory under duress. Like my Tlingit ancestors, the Lummi people have faced systematic attempts to suppress their culture, language, and sovereignty. Both our peoples share histories of resilience, resistance, and ongoing work to preserve and revitalize our distinct cultural traditions in the face of colonization.

I strive to honor the Lummi Nation through my actions. The work I do here, from public murals to teaching at Northwest Indian College to community organizing, is informed by my commitment to Indigenous cultural preservation and sovereignty. I dedicate my traffic control box art in Ferndale to the Tribal youth of this region, and I work to ensure that Native presence and perspectives remain visible in public spaces. Respect for the land and its original stewards guides everything I create here.

Gunalchéesh. Thank you.