Artist & Advocate Statement

As a Creative Healing Consultant and Artist, Tara Evonne Trudell, (Santee Sioux/Rarámuri/Xicana) weaves multiple mixed media of handmade paper beads, poetry, photography, film, and audio components into her work to express her creative visions that address the many social issues she sees as a continuance of generational trauma on women and children.  Tara makes beads from the many reports, research, data, and survivor stories to amplify their voices and resources that need to be shared in all communities.

Tara offers her personal experience of being a grandmother, granddaughter, daughter, mother, sister, and one day a future ancestor as an opening to bear witness to others who are struggling with their own intergenerational abuse and trauma. Tara shares her own healing journey for others to relate and join her in the navigation of changing this painful and harmful narrative.  It is through this guidance of spirit reclamation and empowering personal energy that can come from our own making prayer beads that address the many colonial and oppressive narratives in a manner that dates back to 100,000 BC when beads were first discovered. It is from our own history,words, images, and worlds can we reshape and reclaim our connection to spirit. With one bead at a time, we can reclaim a time and place before harm entered our ways of life. This becomes the stepping off point for the return of our personal power.

Incorporating these hand made beads as her own personal regalia, Tara is on a lifelong journey in the reclamation of her identity to earth and spirit by remembering her indigenous connection and ceremonies. An artist  that she hopes represents and advocates for earth and humanity to stimulate action and a sense of community care that needs to be shared between all nations. Tara has done extensive prayer bead workshops with women survivors of sexual assault, human trafficking, domestic violence, community and youth groups, & immigrants/refugees.   

e. taraevonnetrudell@gmail.com