savann standing behind UO Urban Farm fruit trees located on the Eastern border, captured by their friend Carly Osborne; Sagittarius Szn 2022 [these trees are in danger of displacement and/or scheduled for permanent removal]

greetings to amazing humans from a (Tropical) Taurus Sun/Leo Moon+Rising on Kalapuya Land (I'm currently in what = usually called Portland Oregon, but also have been at school in what = often called Eugene <3). it's savann!

my finals for Fall Term Quarter are over, thank goodness, I kind of can't believe it. and being back with my parents + lil sis is interesting. There are still some health issues in my blood family. I once mentioned in our scorpio eclipse season groupchat that I felt like, despite feeling alone, there is likely someone going through the same thing somewhere in the world, maybe closer than imagined, maybe with different perceptions and perspectives. that realization came when I was in the hospital with my uncle who had a stroke一and realizing how there are fewer things I am inherently responsible for, though his siblings (my mom and her sibs) have a lot on their mind to look after him. and how other people in the world (have family that) face(d) strokes too. I hope this isn't spiritual bypassing of sorts; it just, for a moment, made me feel a lil less alone.

my uncle is in a care home now <3 i'm hoping a lot for (continued) good health for family, especially my grandparents on my mom's side, and my lil baby cousin Gemma on my dad's side. I'm still kind of imbetween places when it comes to future plans and hopes. I may try to quit my current job and look for other things that can support the ideals that I stand behind (and/or are ones the place I'm currently working on describes).

and! I have a winter break. I have the privilege of having significantly more time to think and reflect and exist!!

I can be a little slow in terms of timing, but please reach out to me if you would like to receive snail mail, or if you are in areas we often call Portland/Beaverton/Eugene/Oregon, and perhaps open to connecting? it would be an honor to send a letter or something similar, in time for this season.

During Fall Term, one of my classes = LA 390, or Urban Farm class, at my university. I absolutely love it. Significant parts of the farm are in danger, though I'm still hopeful more can be saved. The Instagram @savetheurbanfarm has more information, as does savetheurbanfarm.com ; I will attach a few of my favorite photos of the Urban Farm too!

I also created a coloring book zine due to the final project in my Intro to Native Studies class (taught by Dr. Angie Morrill, enrolled in the Klamath Tribes)一I drew things that made me think from Yakama Legends and Stories specifically from Anakú Iwachá and Dr. Michelle M. Jacob's Huckleberries and Coyotes: Lessons From Our More Than Human Relations. This was definitely not for profit, but as a non-Native student, I have mixed feelings on what beings I chose to draw and which beings I didn't draw. Some of this was completely arbitrary: in the eight-page coloring zine, I chose not to draw Spiliyáy (Legendary Coyote) who is considered a great teacher but did something in “The Buffalo Legend” of Anakú Iwachá that made me personally not want to draw him. I also did not include Aan (Sun), even on pages 4-5 between Pyaxí (Bitter Root) shining brilliantly and Sikni Yellow Bell (whom I greatly relate to). But wow, does the sun feel so significant. Dr. Michelle M. Jacob of the Yakama Nation writes about Aan on her Auntie Way Blog: https://auntieway.com/2022/09/23/early-morning-light/

Dr. Jacob also created the website [ https://anahuymentoring.com/ ], which includes many of her past works (books like Huckleberries and Coyotes!) amongst writing workshops she offers from time to time. I recently ordered her book The Auntie Way, and will happily lend my copy to people via aspects like snail mail as feels applicable. Dr. Jacob reads a story from The Auntie Way here: [ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxM4EOwn2k0 ]

In college, I got the honor and privilege of learning from Angie (she asked students to call her Angie) and Dr. Jacob (who always signs her name off with Michelle?) It was from Dr. Jacob's EDST 410 (Indigenous Values in Education) class that I encountered the Indigenous Storywork website created by Q'um Q'um Xiiem (Dr. Jo-ann Archibald) to further note an importance, significance, and education of stories–especially when it comes to the gift of stories from Indigenous Elders and teachers [ https://indigenousstorywork.com/ ]. If you have about 3-5 minutes to listen, here's a story told about Lady Louse: [ https://indigenousstorywork.com/elders-teachings/ ]

the first snow savann witnessed on Kalapuya Land (University of Oregon campus), Sagittarius Szn 2021

a section of the gated Back 40 (intended to be destroyed in Knight Campus II development), captured by savann on Sagittarius Szn 2022 with their friend Carly’s camera

In short, I hold much gratitude for being able to draw as I felt inspired, but I also hope everyone knows it's more than okay to hold different opinions about what I did. I procrastinated on the coloring zine (in a fashion kind of similar to Yellow Bell, literally coming late to the final class) because I was afraid of drawing poorly. I believe the labeled words in Ichishkíin are accurate because I consulted Anakú Iwacha and asked an Ichishkíin-learning student for help, but it's also not peer-reviewed for accuracy. I made it in hopefully intended reciprocity and found it healing to draw, but I hope you only look at it if you like, and share any thoughts that come to mind. I believe correction (as well as simply vulnerable sharing) can be a form of care.

I will happily mail or if able, see you in person to hand zine to you! If you want to print, here is a link: [ https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1kt0ZklEONj1yJ8r8-TfTJVgIVVMOZxrn9jBpH7c3lV0/edit#slide=id.g1a1cf3e88bd_0_6 ].

I hope you all are being kind to yourselves especially in these colder months, as well as sharing things that bring joy with those you care for, and giving yourself the chance to experience nice things!!

much love,

Savann

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