aaniin boozhoo.

niizhoomigizi ndizhinikaaz, atik ndoodem kekekoziibiing ndoonjibaa, waabanaki megwaa ndidaa, anishinaabe irish niizhmanidoog ndaaw.

My name is niizhoomigizi, two eagles. I am also known as niizhoo and shawna morningstar redskye. I am of the caribou clan. I am queer and two spirit of anishinaabe and irish ancestors. I am a visitor living, loving and creating in Waabanaki territory (maine) alongside my spouse and our darling nimosh (dog) out of a small studio set up in our home along our river relative, the Kennebec.

I acknowledge waabigan | clay as earth blood and minerals who carry our stories, and indaanikoobijigan | Ancestors who hold and ground me into my practice. 

In my work with clay, I create sculpture, pottery and what I call story vessels- utilizing slips, underglazes and sgraffito to honour narratives. The vessels, made through processes of creation and reduction, are storytellers and living beings reflective of our own complex vessels/bodies – holding narratives of grief, joy, trauma, healing, kinship, survival and resistance. Each vessel I make is an extension of my responsibilities to my name, clan, ancestors, family and community.

It is my prayer to remember and restore ancient relationship practices with waabigan | clay - to honour their voice and the voices and stories of my ancestors and non-human relatives. Through my practice, I aim to disrupt colonialism in its vast and insidious forms. I carry this responsibility with profound care and reverence. 

miigwech bizindawiyeg.