Arianna M.

Arianna “Cardinal Girl” is a descendant of the Little Traverse Bay Bands of Odawa Indians. She is currently 14 and a freshman in high school. She has danced as both a jingle dress dancer and fancy shawl dancer. She has many artistic interests including portraits, multimedia art, jewelry making and poetry. She was enrolled at the prestigious Blue Lake Fine Arts camp this past summer and has had her work displayed at the Crooked Tree Arts Center. She was recently featured at a “Meet the Artist” event for the Ahneen Art Gallery & store in Charlevoix, Michigan.

Every second weekend in August, my Tribe comes together for the Honoring Mother Earth Pow Wow. As early as I can remember, I have danced to the heart beat of Mother Earth with my community. Some of my earliest and best memories are of my mother braiding my hair for Pow Wow. For me, our Pow Wow symbolizes both home and community. The picture represents that memory. I drew the mother and daughter with a graphite pencil. I repurposed one of the shawls my family made for me when I danced as a fancy shawl dancer for the background.