A DEN is a home.
We’re a group of Afro-Indigenous and Indigenous
creatives who use the power of storytelling
to reconnect to the land,
revitalize ancestral knowledge,
and nurture biocultural relationships.
A DEN is a home: a place of rest, recharge, & power.
13 represents healing, protection, and transformation.
The name of the 13th DEN
1) honors our Indigenous teachings of the 13 moon calendar and the wakísi (turtle’s) shell
2) symbolizes our deep connection to Mother Earth as our home
It celebrates the wisdom of our animal relatives, our first teachers, who continue to guide us in healing, reciprocal relationships, and living in harmony with the natural world.
We also honor our ancestors, who imparted their wisdom through storytelling so that we may survive and thrive. Now, it is our turn to create safe spaces for all beings and share our stories, ensuring that the next seven generations may flourish.
Our Programming
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Book Club
Explore accessible literature that resonates with Indigenous and Afro-Indigenous experiences within the natural world. Each session focuses on selected works that inspire discussion, reflection, and connection within our community. Together, we'll delve into stories that honor our heritage and spark meaningful conversations.
Coming Spring 2025.
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Wakísi Watch
A growing circle of relative-loving folks committed to protecting turtles and other wildlife along our roads and byways. Named with love and care, “Wakísi” honors the quiet wisdom of turtles—slow-moving elders who remind us to listen, observe, and protect what matters.
Each year, too many animals are injured or killed trying to cross roads in search of nesting sites, food, or water. We believe in showing up—for the small, the sacred, and the often-overlooked. Our mission is to raise awareness, share knowledge, and take action to reduce roadkill and help wildlife move safely through their homelands.
We’re working to:
- Educate our communities about the importance of wildlife crossings
- Advocate for safer road design and signage
- Support traditional ecological knowledge and community science
- Honor the lives of animals we’ve lost and protect those still traveling
Whether it’s pulling over to gently guide a turtle to safety, planting native species near crossings, or uplifting ancestral teachings about our animal kin, we’re here to watch, witness, and walk with them.
Coming Summer 2025.
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Indigenous Garden & Foraging Club
Connect with the land through sustainable gardening and foraging practices. Participants will learn about traditional planting techniques, native plants, and the art of foraging for wild edible and medicinal plants. This hands-on program emphasizes traditional ecological knowledge, fostering a deeper relationship with Mother Earth and our cultural heritage as we cultivate and gather food together.
Coming Spring 2026.
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We Welcome All Forms of Storytelling & Art!
Architecture & Sacred Spaces: designing buildings that tell stories of culture and history
Augmented Reality (AR) & Artificial Intelligence (AI) Storytelling: immersive digital experiences
Beadwork & Jewelry Making
Calligraphy & Lettering: visual storytelling through written forms
Comics & Graphic Novels: sequential art, manga, webcomics
Dance: modern and traditional African and American Indigenous storytelling dances
Design: storytelling through land-based and/or cultural symbols and designs
Digital Media & VR: interactive storytelling, video games, virtual experiences
Eco-Art & Land-Based Storytelling: using nature, landscapes, and installations to share narratives
Fashion & Textile Arts: quilting, embroidery, regalia, wearable art
Film & Video: movies, documentaries, animation, short films
Food & Culinary Traditions: cultural recipes, storytelling through cuisine
Gesture & Sign Language: storytelling through movement and nonverbal communication such as American Indian Sign Language
Healing Arts & Energy Work: storytelling through spiritual and cultural healing practices
Murals & Street Art: public storytelling through large-scale art
Music & Songwriting: everything from traditional and folk songs, to hip-hop, opera, and instrumental storytelling
Oral Storytelling: spoken word, folklore, traditional storytelling
Photography & Photojournalism: documenting moments and movements, visual narratives
Pottery & Ceramics: historical and cultural storytelling through handmade objects
Tattooing & Body Art: cultural markings, scarification, piercings
Theater & Performance: plays, monologues
Visual Arts: painting, illustration, photography, sculpture
Woodworking & Crafting: carvings, traditional crafts
Writing: poetry, children’s books, novels, essays, journalism
And More!