Kinship

As humans, our languages determine how we see the world. Indigenous languages in particular provide a unique viewpoint. The presence of animacy within Indigenous languages allows speakers to see the world in terms of relation. Indigenous communities have traditionally seen the plants, animals, and trees as all being interconnected. We are all tied together by the invisible thread of creation; a spider web of lives. 

The quillbox by Yvonne Walker-Keshick is a living being in its own right. All of the smaller units carry with them the spirit of their source. When we slow down, we are able to appreciate and discover the magic in the process of creation. All of the materials of the quillbox were harvested with both unyielding respect and unconditional love. The quillbox holds a lesson in perspective: our living, breathing relatives are all around us, and we honor these relationships in everything we do.