His favorite animal was a polar bear, which also happens to be my most feared animal, so maybe there’s some divine symbolism or lesson in that. One day I will draw one, when I have the mental fortitude for that. 😅

This year it’s hit me especially hard, as I was diagnosed as autistic, and he was my only autistic sibling. I miss him all the time. I grieve his life, everything that’s nothing now, all the spaces where he should be but isn’t, and the chance to know him as I keep growing.

This one especially has my heart 😭

This one is everything to me 😩

Hmm…I really try to focus on light and shadow, use round brush only, and lots of blending (also with a round brush)!

This Indigenous Peoples’ Day, consider donating to the Western Alaska Disaster Relief Fund, which is guided by local, regional, and Indigenous-led organizations to provide immediate relief, recovery, and long-term support and resilience initiatives. ❤️‍🩹🌱

alaskacf.fcsuite.com/erp/donate/c...

Native communities have historically been forced into flood-prone areas due to colonization, making them more vulnerable to climate disasters, especially as these disasters become more frequent and intense.

Recently, Typhoon Halong struck the west coast of Alaska, devastating Indigenous communities like Kipnuk and Kwigillingok. Homes have been ripped from their foundations, people are stranded or missing, and hardly anyone is talking about it.