05/08/2026
We would like to introduce you to this year's Annual Gathering design artist! CIBA is grateful to have collaborated with Michelle Napoli (Federated Indians of Graton Rancheria- Coast Miwok and Southern Pomo) to create this year's design.
About the Artist:
"Ka ’awe ‘opu Michelle Napoli. Kanni liwanwalli. Kanni he ka’inniiko tuppe kaa peta luumaamu ke tookawmu ke ‘eyye kochchaamu.
I call my artwork koya-’aklanna (song-stories). My koya-’aklanna are about the ways we are connecting with our homelands and waters as we continue our stories. I am grateful to Joseph Byron for teaching me the Coast Miwok language, such as with the translation above. I acknowledge artist Frank Day and Mark Minch-DeLeon’s (2021) discussion of Frank Day’s paintings as song-story in 'Atlas for a destroyed world: Frank Day’s painting as work of nonvital revitalization.'"
About the Design:
"This basket is holding a circle of pispi, clamshell beads, representing a circle of all of our relatives as a community together making space to honor the basket. There are also clamshell beads filling up the basket, representing all our ancestors and loved ones who are still with us today, teaching us to continue weaving and stay connected with our stewardship of our homelands. In the basket is suyyu, hawk, proudly wearing beautiful basket designs and clamshells as well. The title is: Ka wuskin weete (My heart keeps opening). I feel our strength and resiliency continues when our hearts keep opening - meaning we are staying in a good way as we continue weaving with a good heart."
