The Great Illness

Choctaw prophecies warned of a great illness that would come and that would deeply affect both Choctaw people and non-Choctaw people. Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic under the Trump Administration, with cultural events and community gatherings being canceled and folks relegated to to their homes I had worried how would culture and teachings within tribal communities be passed on - particularly when many of our teachings on how to conduct ourselves in a proper way go against CDC guidelines. With the Trump Administration's lies and mismanagement of the epidemic, Native communities were hit particularly hard and we are seeing many tribal and community members get sick and die. Our elders have been passing away at an alarming rate. As the saying goes, when an elder in our community dies, it's as if a library as been burned down. At this moment in February 2021, things are improving little by little. Though the long term affects of this era are still yet to be seen.

This piece was created in Procreate using the following brushes: 6b, Mercury, Wild Light, and various brushes from True Grit Texture Supply Co.