I was in Los Angeles putting up some artwork for a show, and while I was there, I attended a planned #BlackLivesMatter protest, and then an unplanned protest as a result of the death of JR Thomas.

After a heavy week of hunting for art venues and then watching the daughter of a man killed by the police tear up in front of me, I was pretty worn out. A good friend from Santa Monica invited me on a day trip up to Live Oak campground in San Bernardino to attend a Powwow.

I was extremely hesitant. I’d attended only one Powwow since I’ve left the First Nation land I’d grown up on, and it hadn’t been a good experience. I’d avoided Powwows in the States ever since.

But my friend was excited to go, and I needed something to take my mind off of everything I had been seeing, if only for a little while.

It ended up being everything I needed.