Feather River student, Aya, has considered herself an artist since she was old enough to hold a paintbrush. At just nine years old, she used a mix of watercolors and colored pencils to create a piece of artwork for the Walking in Our Moccs exhibition at the Maidu Museum.

Curated by Sierra Native Alliance, a nonprofit organization dedicated to preserving Native families, cultures, and the environment in Placer County, the show runs from October 11th - February 26th in Roseville. The exhibit shines a light on what it means to “walk in two worlds” – balancing traditional Native lifeways with today’s modern culture. “Walking in Our Moccs features artwork from youth to elders and creatively illustrates the coexistence of tribal lifeways and mainstream culture,” said Sierra Native Alliance Executive Director Anno Nakai.

Aya first heard about the exhibit from her mother, who has always encouraged her to learn more about her Native heritage. Aya is American Indian and Mexican American. She and her father are part Ishak, indigenous people who originated from southwest Louisiana and southeastern Texas since precolonial times.

While her father knew about his ancestry growing up, he wasn’t deeply connected to his tribe’s traditions. In recent years, both of Aya’s parents have been exploring more about their Native roots, inspiring Aya to connect with her heritage through art.

When Aya heard about Walking in Our Moccs, she was thrilled to join in. Her painting captures a memory from a family trip to Donner Lake in Tahoe, where she and her family came across a coyote. “It was really special,” Aya said. “So I decided to include it in my artwork.”

She proudly displayed her painting in the museum, which was later purchased by her grandfather for $40. “It made me super happy,” Aya giggled.

A fourth grader in Feather River Charter School, Aya loves homeschooling because it gives her the freedom to study what she’s truly interested in. “I love that my parents are my teachers,” she shared. “You learn the true cultures and histories of things.”

When she’s not painting, Aya enjoys reading spooky stories or drawing with her father. She said being part of Walking in Our Moccs was especially exciting because it allowed community members to learn about Native cultures and connect through art. “It’s really cool to see,” she said.

Aya also offered heartfelt advice to other young artists; “Do your art around your family. If you have a supportive family, make sure your art is perfect to you. If it’s not, just keep going. If you’re nervous about sharing your art, wiggle it off and feel happy.”