Dena'ina Dreams

I hosted one workshop at the Art Lounge in May and it was a lovely experience and full of creative minds. I learned a lot about the time it takes to teach and what it means to open up the design to the students.

I hosted another workshop on my husband’s family farm in Indiana this summer and it was so much fun to create, talk story, sit still together and spend quality time creating.

I’ll be hosting another workshop the weekend of the fall equinox.

• September 21 & 22nd
• 10am-3pm each day
• Class size is limited to 7 people
• Ages 16 and above

To sign up for the workshop:
• Please visit my website and in the shop, you can purchase a ticket for the class.

Dghishini means “beautiful” in the Dena’ina Athabascan language. This pair of earrings reminds me of the colors of the famous painting, “Birth of Venus”, by Botticelli - embodying the goddess of love and beauty. May you feel beautiful and loved when you wear these earrings.

Made with size 13 Czech cut beads. 4.5cm long.

Your earrings have been smudged to rid the piece of any energies I may have passed to it in the creation process, opening it to harness new energy with you

Ndalvay Delqadi means “goose food” aka “horsetail jointed grass” in the Dena’ina Athabascan language. This dreamcatcher was made this spring and as I made this I can hear the geese coming back home. There are seven species of Ndalvay Delqadi in Dena’ina country but the Inland and Iliamna Dena’ina use one species of Ndalvay Delqadi for food. They are collected after the snow melts in the spring, from riverbanks in quiet waters where part of a bank has fallen in. They are sweet and juicy at this time. This dreamcatcher carries the energy of the plant and the blooming of life in springtime. (Information from “Tanaina Plantlore by Priscilla Russell Kari”)

Made with:

• Size 11 seed beads, ribbon, string, accent stones. 16.5in long and 3in wide

• Peridot Beads: Known as the stone of compassion, peridot is believed to bring good health, restful sleep and peace to relationships by balancing emotions and mind. This friendly bright green stone also has the uncanny ability to inspire eloquence and creativity; it also brings delight and good cheer.

• Green Fluorite: A great harmonizer, helps make sense out of confusion and helps organize and reframe thoughts. Green Fluorite restores order and also promotes peace in the mind, body, and environment

Today’s my birthday🎉 I’m 36 years old and so grateful for this life and all of you who have supported my small beading business.

Based on the survey, Skitnu Łi’a (Knik Glacier) will be offered through a ticketed raffle. *Raffle will end on Wednesday April 10th at 6pm AKST.* *Winner will be randomly selected at 8pm AKST.*

To enter:
* Venmo $10 to -Stickman-1 (Photo is Skitnu Łi’a Dreamcatcher)
* For other forms of payment I can do PayPal, Global Federal Credit Union Transfer, or Facebook pay; message me for details.

For extra entry:
* Share post (please take a screenshot and message it to me, sometimes I miss who’s shared it)

Details:
• ~ 30 hours of work & comes with a custom hand painted card and wood burned box.

• Made on Skitnu Łi’a, Iceland, Seattle, & Anchorage. So much hope, love, and connection to people, place, land and culture were woven into this creation. It also serves as a reminder of our responsibility as stewards of these lands and waters.

• This dreamcatcher started off as part of a campaign with Alaskan artists and sharing our connection to land and place. I’m so grateful to and the talented artists, visionaries and collaborators of the campaign.

Chin’an,
Danielle

Fundraising Raffle and an opportunity to win one of the dreamcatchers and pair of earrings I’ve made ☀️The funds go directly to the effort to purchasing Koksetna lodge.

In September, invited me to join a collaborative storytelling photoshoot with and I wrote something to go with the Skitnu Łi’a Dreamcatcher I made. Chin’an for all you do as an artist, friend and ally. Chin’an for uplifting stories like ours.

• Full article link in bio •

“Why do you go up mountains and come down empty handed?” my great uncle asked me years ago when I told him I was preparing to do the Everest Basecamp Trek in Nepal. “You’re not even hunting or picking berries. What’s the purpose?” He asked the same question when I walked 500 miles in Spain and when I would wander around the mountains of Alaska. My answer to him was, “Because it’s beautiful, it’s good exercise and it’s where I feel most alive.”

My great uncle is of the generation that knows the land. He knows where the animals will be, how to navigate the lake waters, how to read the weather, how to set snares and traps, how to make snowshoes and sleds and how to live completely in reciprocal relationship with the land, waters and animals. He learned everything, not from books, but by experience and by living out on the ełnena (land) all his life. His learning and actions were for the survival of his family. To go up a mountain without thinking of community and reciprocity does not make sense to my uncle.

The values of reciprocity and community have guided the major decisions in my life. I earned a degree in environmental science because I wanted to protect animals, lands and waters. I became a vegetarian because I did not want to support animal mistreatment in the meat industry. I advocate for Indigenous rights, salmon rights and environmental rights because there is an underlying stream fueling my passion to support the survival of the interdependent community that I was raised in.

I was taught that the purpose of my actions had to benefit more than just myself. Beading was one of those activities that brought me joy, contentment and peace, but it also was like going up a mountain and coming down empty handed; beading was self-serving until I started to give the dreamcatchers away.

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This week my mom worked with 5 other Dena’ina women to document sewing a squirrel parka together. She shared about the process and how enriching it was to create something, like a parka, with other women and celebrate this process and revitalize this tradition.

My mom is humble and my biggest mentor, teacher and inspiration for the work I do in my day job and with my beadwork. She’s worked to preserve Dena’ina Athabascan language, sukdu (stories), traditions and so much more by hosting camps, workshops, seminars and collaborated on a variety of books.
She’s worked with Elders for years and embodies the groundedness of a true leader. This squirrel parka is a small part of her work; I’ve been listening to her stories from the Elders about snaring the squirrels, processing them, and then finally finishing the process with a parka.

There are a small handful of people revitalizing Dena’ina language, place names, etc and I appreciate each and every one of them.

But today, I’d like to lift up my little momma, Karen Evanoff, who has done so much to preserve our culture 🙏🏽❤️

Hope everyone enjoyed celebrating and honoring Indigenous People’s Day. I spent the day writing, beading and cleaning and reading up on Dena’ina plantlore. Grateful for this day to celebrate our cultures, languages, traditions and our people.

Posted a few things up on the website:

Shop — Dena'ina Dreams Shop Dreamcatchers | Earrings | All Dreamcatchers Earrings Quick View Naqeli $135.00 Add To Cart Quick View Uh $100.00 Add To Cart Quick View Heyi Q’eytsay $140.00 Add To Cart Quick View Yuzhun Dreamcatcher $125.00 sold out Add To Cart

Love it when customers become friends over the years and I get to meet them in real life. Jaimie Cochrane has bought multiple earrings over the years and came to meet me in person with Quk Tazun earrings I made awhile ago while I was in New Mexico.

Chin’an Jaimie for enjoying the earrings and shining as you do!

Also, I‘ve been silent on here for awhile as it gets closer to my wedding but I hope to be more active in the fall. Sending hugs and gratitude to you for continuing to follow along this Dena’ina Dream beading journey.

*Up on website* https://denainadreams.com/shop

Nudech’ghela

Nudech’ghela means “lucky agate” from the Outer Inlet dialect of the Dena’ina Athabascan language. It was said that the lucky agate stone brings good luck to whoever finds it. This dreamcatcher symbolizes the intention of the story of the lucky agate, and hopes to bring the new owner luck, well-being, and warmth in the middle of winter.

Made with:
• Red jasper stones which are stones of empowerment, bringing strength to resist emotional domination by others, and the courage to overcome violence.
• Size 11 seed beads, thread, accent beads, mental loop, and ribbon.
• 13in long and 3.25in wide

Handle with Care. Keep out of reach of pets & small children. The best place to hang your dreamcatcher is above your bed or in a window.

This spiral design, for me, symbolizes life's cycle; how everything turns & returns ~ the circular energy of birth-life-death-rebirth.

Yuyanq’ Ch’ex, pronounced “you-yonk chekh” ~ “breath from above” or “heaven’s breath”

The U.S. Board on Geographic Names unanimously voted this week to rename North and South Su***de Peaks in the Chugach front range to be North and South Yuyanq’ Ch’ex, a Dena’ina Athabascan name.

Yuyanq’ Ch’ex, pronounced “you-yonk chekh,” was chosen by Helen Dick, an Elder and one of the only fluent Dena’ina speakers today.

Anchorage’s Su***de Peaks receive new Dena’ina name of Yuyanq’ Ch’ex The renaming of the peaks to Yuyanq’ Ch’ex, which means “breath from above” or “heaven’s breath,” was the result of a two-year effort spearheaded by the leader of a su***de prevention nonprofit.

Shani is a time to be on ełnena.

How many of us Alaskans burn the midnight flame on both ends during Shani?

Whether it’s hiking, social outings, music, subsistence…Foraging, harvesting, processing so much goodness that ełnena offers.

These two dreamcatchers were made at the height of summer & I was so eager to see my vision unfold but every take apart, broken thread, broken bead and redo I was humbled and reminded to enjoy the journey of creating.

The end result is so rewarding but it’s the process where I learn so much…and as we near the end of Shani and enter a new season I’m reminded to be in this moment.

Chin’an for capturing the dreamcatchers in the Arctic.

5 days at Quk Tazun Leadership camp at Kijik.

This camp has been going on for 8 years. It is a collaborative effort between the Nondalton Tribal Council and the Lake Clark National Park And Preserve to continue passing on Dena’ina traditions, language, songs, squirrel snare making, net making, historical knowledge along with leadership skills, kayaking, survival lessons, arts and crafts, archeology, yoga, meditation and so much more. Over the years the coordinators have rotated topics and lessons and it has been such a privilege to be able to be a part of this camp.

My partner and I taught yoga, meditation, origami and dreamcatcher making classes. The ages ranged from 10-17 year olds and they all did great and took on this dreamcatcher with enthusiasm. There was one young girl who didn’t give up and was determined to finish and she was the only one 🙂 It’s about the journey of creating, calming the mind, enjoying the stillness and focus it takes to complete the piece.

We also spent invaluable time with 3 Dena’ina Elders who speak the language fluently, have lifetimes worth of Dena’ina sukdu, and cultural expertise and wisdom…that time was priceless.

Chin’an gheli Naqeltani, Qizhjeh Vena, Karen, Michelle, Fawn, April, Chuda Butch, Cheda Pauline, Cheda Aggie, Monty, Kirk, Kiana, Chase, Rob and all the young adults and youth. 🙏🏽☀️💛

Appreciate when customers share where their dreamcatchers have traveled to!

Shani Sukdu “summer story” has made it all the way to the Caribbean☀️🌏🌙🌴🙏🏽

Chin’an for sharing.

Yada di "Just Transition" = What is Just Transition? I can hear my grandma asking this and my mom did ask this.

Just Transition, in my mind goes back to how we, as cultures, did things before money...we traded and some still do today.

People have always asked if they could buy the smoked salmon that my family processes and my answer is always "No, but we can do a trade with foods from your homeplace or foods you harvest." I've received moose, fruit, coffee, honey, and more and I love that idea because each party is sharing some part of them that is more valuable than money.

So some months back I asked a friend, Tarah, if I could buy or trade something for one of her wonderful knitted sweaters (a real work of art), and she agreed to a trade for a dreamcatcher. Not only did we get to create something we both enjoy making but we got to share it with another who knows how much skill, time, and love went into each item.

Chin'an/thank you !

This one-of-a-kind dreamcatcher is inspired by the magnificent place we live and your many adventures with your doggos and your hubby. Ełnen Sukdu (ethlen sookdoo) means stories from the land; which I feel like this embodies the infinite possibilities of stories in this wondrous place. Sending big hugs to you and your adventures and thank you so much for sharing your art form with me.

Made with:
• Size 11 glass beads, thread, ribbon, accent glass beads, commercially tanned hide, and spruce hen feathers.

• Green Atlantic salmon leather from Iceland.

• Bristol Bay sockeye salmon leather; caught by my family and tanned by me.

• Abalone: Said to have meaning of solace, a connection to the ocean, the cycle of life, protection and ancient travel.

• Moonstone - (raw cut) Is a stone for “new beginnings”, of inner growth and strength. It soothes emotional instability and stress, and stabilizes the emotions, providing calmness.

• Tiger's Eye: Said to help release fear & anxiety, aids in harmony & balance and said to aide in protection.

• Clear Quartz: Brings purifying energy to the home. Transmutes healing light and energy.

*These are up on the website*

Quk Tazun (“cook taa-zoon”) means “the sun is rising” in the Dena’ina Athabascan language. These earrings symbolize the beginning of a new day and the infinite possibilities a new day brings. These were made with love of Alaskan summers and winters and the reminder to send gratitude to nuyi (sun).

Made with:

• Size 13, 14, & 15 Czech and glass beads.

• Yellow Topaz is a symbol of harmony and balance. Many believe yellow topaz to be a jewel that represents empathy and serenity. The topaz can be a soothing stone and a promoter of harmony.

*These earrings have been smudged with sage to rid them of any energies I may have passed to them in the creation process and opening them up to the new owner.

Yagheli du Dena’ina Dreamers

It’s been a busy 2022 with things opening up and people still unsure of it all and scheduling meetings over meetings when we’ve forgotten that pre-covid we didn’t need as many meetings…

I’ve taught two dreamcatcher making workshops, made multiple dreamcatchers for special occasions of people losing loved ones or wanting extra protection, I got Engaged 😊, I slept under trees with my niece, I went dog mushing on the Yukon River and felt my ancestors smile at me returning home, we moved out of our apartment and are in process of buying our own place, I presented more times than I can count, I tried to bring balance and peace to difficult situations, and I took custom orders that I thought I would have time to do...

For those who have ordered something a while ago, I still have it in my to do list; you’re not forgotten.

The last photo is me, after a relaxing morning of yoga and a massage where the therapist released 3 pressure points…I’m still creating but it’s been sparse times of creativity and with summer almost in full swing - I won’t be taking any more orders until August❤️🙏🏽Setting boundaries for well being sometimes means also giving creativity a rest.

Chin’an gheli everyone for supporting my small business and I hope you all have a wonderful Shani/summer☀️

Today, I taught 12 of my super cool colleagues, at The Wilderness Society, how to make a beaded dreamcatcher from start to finish. There were many laughs and good stories and such good energy and some frustrations but we got through it all.

So so grateful to be able to share this art form with others.

For me, the pattern represents birth-life-death-rebirth. These were made to capture bad energy and protect those we love.

I really liked what one person shared; ““I appreciate how you said “let’s just start and I’ll teach as you go along”…because the pattern can be confusing and get us caught in our head; you broke it down into simple steps.” ….life can get confusing and complex but when we focus on one thing at a time we can achieve anything.

Sending good energy out to you all. Chin’an 🙏🏽❤️🌻

Chin’an gheli Palmer Arts Council for sponsoring the dreamcatcher workshop this last weekend.

It’s always such a pleasure to share this art form with beginners and see their artistic abilities transform this design into their own.

Truly grateful and still reflecting on the two days of spending time creating and sharing.

Shared some of my background on Big Cabbage Radio this weekend 😊🙏🏽🌻 You can listen here: https://www.radiofreepalmer.org/schedule/

Danielle Stickman of Dena'ina Dreams talks about how she became a dreamcatcher artist at 8:00 am Monday April 11.

https://www.facebook.com/DenainaDreams

You can make your very own dreamcatcher on the weekend of April 23rd🌞

Space is limited and there are 5 spaces left.

You can sign up here: https://www.palmerarts.org/upcoming-events

Chin’an Gheli for the support and recognition BBNC; wouldn’t be here without my community 🙏🏽❤️

As National Entrepreneurship Week comes to a close, we recognize Dena'ina Dreams as the shareholder-owned business of the month!

BBNC shareholder Danielle Stickman has owned her small one-woman shop based in Anchorage for six years. She creates one-of-a-kind earrings and dreamcatchers inspired by the earth, animals, seasons, Athabascan heritage, and with the reminder of our connection to all beings.

Find Dena'ina Dreams in the Shareholder-Owned Business Directory at bbncshareholderbiz.com/listings/denaina-dreams/.

To recognize National Entrepreneurship Week, USDA Rural Development has released a resource guide for rural entrepreneurs. Find the guide online at bit.ly/3s0MAId and learn more at natleshipweek.org/.