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Michelle wearing the “KASHÉESHỊ” (white corn) Earrings draped in the “Whispering Blossoms” Wool blanket. Photograph by: Hannah Manuelito

By: Michelle Lowden, Pueblo of Acoma

(she/her/hers)

Behind the design – The two figures represent the sisters that are a part of the creation story in Acoma who gave life to the Earth we now share. The red is to honor our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and Trans Relatives. The Keres phrase translates to “Honor our Mothers/Matriach.”

We have the responsibility of honoring our Matriarch but also, in embodying the Matriarch, to carry on the message so that it doesn’t fade out – for too long our voices have been unheard and silenced. My name is Michelle Lowden my pronouns are ‘she, her and hers’. I am the founder and owner of Milo Creations. I am a daughter of the Bear Clan passed down from my mother Roberta Charlie and Yellow Corn Clan passed down from my father Aaron Lowden. I am fortunate to call my ancestral home, the Pueblo of Acoma (known as Aa’ku in Keres) my current home. Within the past year, I’ve not only started working for my tribe for the first time, as a Cultural Liaison at Acoma Behavioral Health Services but also, I became a mother for the first time. Though working for my tribe over the past year is something that has brought me such pride – I have been working to honor my heritage through art when I started Milo Creations in 2009, which has grown from creating Acoma-influenced jewelry to offering products such as wool blankets, silk scarves and graphic work. www.milocreations.net

In preparation to attending the ‘In Solidarity’ event hosted by the Three Sister’s Collective in Oga Poegeh Owingeh (currently known as Santa Fe), I was moved to turn back to my art to lend voice in support of an important message. The event focused on Honoring our Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and Trans Relatives. I designed a sticker where all proceeds of sales would be donated to Coalition to Stop Violence Against Native Women, with the hope that the stickers don’t stay in personal procession but encouraged to be placed out in public for reminders of the continued healing we must do.

To continue to honor the Matriarch, to carry our message, I am currently working towards creating more products with the ‘Honor the Matriarch’ art to support organizations that work closely with Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, Two Spirit and Trans Relatives awareness and indigenous communities.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]