I began this series shortly after my formal instruction in Cayuga language began (in Cayuga: “Gayogo̱hó꞉nǫʼ gadéwayę:sta’” means I am learning Cayuga). I had never seen any pieces out there that showed indigenous characters speaking in their native language (outside of graphic novels and comic books, I mean) and so decided to take some basic phrases and add them to stylized portraits.