Dena'ina Dreams Videos

~50 hours of work snapped into 4 seconds

Chin’an @thenortherncenter for this opportunity. Chin’an @emelex for the image inspiration. Chin’an Gideon James for letting me run your dogs years ago. Chin’an @brdemuth for inviting @go_barefoot and I on your dog sledding adventure led by @iron.jody This is Arctic life in an abstract dreamcatcher 🙏🏽

I did an Instagram Live at 8pm in my car while visiting my Chuda. Chin’an gheli to everyone who celebrated my birthday week and shared the post, bought a raffle ticket(s), and who continue to show up and support my small little business. It doesn’t happen without your support and presence. Congratulations Damian Hadas!

* Available on website: https://denainadreams.com/shop * N’uyi jaghidaq N’uyi jaghidaq means ‘winter solstice’ in the Dena’ina Athabascan language. This dreamcatcher was made right before winter solstice with the intention to honor and appreciate the seasons as they come; remembering the darkness is necessary to keep in balance with the light. Size: 13in long and 3.25in Materials: * Size 11 seed beads, accent beads, bugle beads, thread, & ribbon. * Hummingbird bead; these birds are said to represent hope and good luck. * Moonstone center bead: Moonstone represents inner clarity, cyclical change, and a connection to the feminine. It is a symbol of light and hope and also encourages us to embrace new beginnings. It is closely linked to themes of femininity such as fertility, balance, softness, and intuition.

* Posted on website: https://denainadreams.com/shop * Negh eshchen Ełnena Negh eshchen Ełnena means ‘I love you land/earth’ in the Dena’ina Athabascan language. This one of a kind landscape dreamcatcher was made with the intention of honoring the ełnena by treating her as relative; a relative we love, honor, respect, and care for. This dreamcatcher also represents the strength ełnena holds and also her fragility. This dreamcatcher took about 25 hours to make, from the design to tanning the Bristol Bay sockeye salmon leather, to redoing multiple parts over again. As you go closer to the center of the dreamcatcher you can see I changed the beads from size 11 to size 13. These art pieces not only represent the Dena’ina Athabascan language but the pieces hold cultural practices and values, such as treating all land, animals and people with respect and care. Size: 21in long and 6.25in wide Materials: * Size 11 and 13 seed beads * Ptarmigan feathers * Oil tanned Bristol Bay sockeye salmon leather from Nondalton and tanned by me. * Atlantic salmon leather from Iceland * Accent beads, bugle beads, ribbon, thread. * Moonstone center bead: Moonstone represents inner clarity, cyclical change, and a connection to the feminine. It is a symbol of light and hope and also encourages us to embrace new beginnings. It is closely linked to themes of femininity such as fertility, balance, softness, and intuition.

Another year of creating and having such wonderful support from all of you. As this new year brings more light with each day I’ll be taking some time to reflect on what lights me up when I create…the new designs, the feel of the skin, the thought and energy of the salmon moving through my hands…I recently read “Being Caribou” by Karsten Heuer; and his recollections and experiences of traveling with the Porcupine caribou herd reminded me of how I relate to the salmon and the energy I put into the creations. Łiqa (salmon) are food but they’re so much more; they’re our relatives - they have taught and continue to teach us about resilience, tradition, family, community, and survival. They travel so far from fry to adult, enduring so much and surviving animals, elements and humans. We don’t take a salmon’s life lightly; we capture, process and eat with respect, honor and gratitude. More can be shared about salmon and caribou and Alaska Native connections to animals and place but what I hope to share through my art is a resonance of that connection and I hope this work sparks your own curiosity of connection to place and animals. I hope you and your family are safe, healthy and enjoying the weekend. I look forward to what will unfold this year and appreciate you, the salmon and this ełnena we inhabit.

Chin’an to everyone who bought a raffle ticket🙏🏽 *Alexandria Nunez* You are the winner - please message me your choice of dreamcatcher 🌞

"Shadows from the Sun" Dreamcatcher