My name is pronounced “Ooo-Hen” I’m Native American and Gael. I’m an enrolled Citizen of The United Cherokee Aniyunwia Tribe (State recognized tribe of approx 3,000 people) I am the product of Two amazing tribal and clan based people. My Family traces our heritage to the Hester roll and Guion Miller Roll. My Cherokee family ties originated in the Carolinas. Campbell, Smith, Hightower, Murphy and other family names located around the Spartansburg trade routes. My Great Great Great grandfather Issac (Photo to the right) served in WW1 to obtain his United States citizenship and was marked as Indian Citizen on his draft card documents. We also have more Native and Scottish relatives back in the 1700’s. The Vann Family was caught in the middle of the Fur trade towards the end of the Powhatan Confederacy and eventually married into the King family (Cherokee) I have been making my native crafts since the age of 9. I am Adopted Lakota and spend a lot of my time researching family history and ever curious I am always seeking traditional knowledge to share with others along the way. Culture is often complex, being multicultural is also deeply complex. I identify as Native and Gael to encompass all of my clans and leave those doors open to both of my cultures.
I was born Female and transitioned at 26 to Aodhan. I identify as Two-Spirit, and embrace both my female and male sides. The traditional Cherokee word for me is Nudle Asgaya, meaning, to be a different spirited Man. However I am not an active member of a Stomp ground, nor do I live in a Cherokee Community so it is hard for me to identify as Nudle Asgaya or even Cherokee without having the communal responsibility of such a title or ties to the communities and not being a fluent speaker of the language. To sell my art I must be an enrolled tribal member of a state or federally recognized tribe, and I am that. The best we can do is navigate through the difficult waters and learn to sail our ships till calmer tides. I am Cherokee and Powhatan, House of Crawford, Clan Fraser and Clan Campbell by blood, yet was raised Lakota, I am adopted Lakota and my work reflects all of my ancestors and adopted relations. I am lucky to have had the teachers and community I have had. I started this business when I was 18 years old.
I am now 34, this year that is over 16 years experience. Your items are professionally cleaned and processed by a professional Taxidermist. (Idaho license #288942516) You can rest assured that only the choice hides and ethically sourced hides are used. No Fur industry hides are used. It is imperative that my business contributes to conservation. By using hunted hides all funds trickle back into permits and licensing from Idaho Fish and Game which promotes healthy and well managed forests. Taxes don’t pay for conservation…
Hunting/fishing/trapping licenses and tags do! By eating domestic cattle you feed the industry that is responsible for most green house gasses, but also the destruction of valuable forests to create more grazing grass for the commercial meat industry. I donate and share my crafts to my local community, my tribe, and I set aside all scraps and craft materials and ship it to various prisons across the country for their Native yards to have craft supplies. I am an enrolled member of an officially State Recognized tribe my products are Native American made in accordance with the Native American Arts and Craft act of 1990
I recently completed my schooling and hold a Doctorate in Ancient Theology, with a Masters in Arts of Ancient Spirituality and a Bachelors of Environmental spirituality. I am always a student of History and culture and do my best to represent the ancestors I come from.