Acts of Unearthing is an extension of “The Water Carries Us” which explores how everyday materials and domestic rituals can serve as vessels of memory, resistance, and cultural preservation. Rooted in the lived experiences and legacies of Black Native Freedmen, this piece honors the subtle ways in which cultural and spiritual traditions are passed through cloth, dye, and the earth.

The materials themselves are integral to the story:

• Indigo, historically cultivated and processed by enslaved Africans and Indigenous communities, shares a history of resistance and deep ancestral knowledge.

• Clay from Chickasha, Oklahoma, grounds the work in place and memory, connecting directly to the lands where Black Native “Freedmen's” history has been shaped and erased. The land carries with it the weight of treaties, removals, and the enduring presence of those who have been systematically excluded from full recognition.

• Black Walnut, known for its strength, durability, and medicinal properties, symbolizes resilience and embodied knowledge.

Together, these elements converge to articulate a vision of Black Native “Freedmen” identity that is complex, resilient, and still unfolding.