Brit Reed

Ancestry: Choctaw Descent / Black
Based In: Tulalip, WA
Email: reebri05@gmail.com
Social Media: @nitaohoyo

About the Art
In all four of the pieces, I utilized procreate to make digital illustrations. Many of the brushes and textures I utilized are a part of the original procreate pack or from true grit texture supply co & visual Timmy. I'm a fan of webtoons and comics. I incorporated half-tone brushes in the highlights and shadows as well as strong black inking to bring that feeling forward. All four pieces showcase relations to cultures, ways, and/or experience of each individual in the illustrations. These are friends and relatives whom I hold the utmost respect for and help to remind me of how I should walk in my daily life.

About the Artist
Brit, an unenrolled Choctaw descendant and adoptee, traces her creativity to her love of music and dance at an early age. She became a freelance photographer shooting for Adore Vintage and local bands around North Texas during high school. Brit studied film and photography at Columbia College Chicago. In 2010, she moved to Olympia, WA to attend Evergreen State College, earning her BA and MPA with a concentration in Tribal Governance. She focused her studies on tribal food (in)security, food sovereignty, tribal food policy, and the effects of food on the health of our tribal communities, later continuing these explorations at the Seattle Culinary Academy. Brit is the founder of Food Sovereignty is Tribal Sovereignty, an I-Collective member, Yehaw Community Curator, the Food Service Provider at the Tulalip Health Clinic’s Diabetes Program, and a Sovereign Bodies Institute Community Research Leader. She is also a beadwork artist and illustrator. Currently, she is the image curator for the I-Collective’s A Gathering Basket publication. She is a member of the Inchunwa team, a project and podcast working to aid in the revitalization of Southeastern traditional tattoos.

My Ancestors Fought Like Hell

digital painting, 2020

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On Thankstaking 2020 YoNasDa LoneWolf spoke on the strength of her ancestors and how they continuously fought like hell so that she and her community could be here and on their traditional land base. In her own work with the Indigenous People's Movement, YoNasDa works extremely hard to ensure that Native folks are represented well and have resources made accessible to them. As someone who has also battled cancer in the past, I am hearted to see the way she walks with such grace, fortitude, strength, and love for herself and her people as she herself battles cancer.

For the Love of Native People

digital painting, 2020

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The daily strain of having to be in the trenches, sacrificing and caring for The People as the medical staff has taken its toll. I think of Seattle Indian Health Board who requested COVID tests and received body bags instead. I know it was hard for them emotionally, mentally, and spiritually. I was heartened to see Abi Echohawk receive her vaccine and also the ribbon dress she made from the body bags the government sent to heal from the incident. This piece is inspired by those two things. My hands are up to y’all for your work and sacrifice.

We Are The Land

digital painting, 2020

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This portrait of Tlingit I-Collective member and chef Kirsten Kirby features her favorite food relatives from her traditional lands. In 2020 as we made calls for ”Land Back” we must also go back to the land and remember our relatives. It is the land and our many relatives from our lands who will care for us in the hardest of times if we uphold good relations.

New Cans

digital painting, 2020

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In this piece, I honor my cousin Carey Flack (Mvskoke/ Chickasaw Freedmen) and her first set of cans. As Native folks it’s so important we do what it takes to uphold our cultural and traditional spiritual ways. As Native people, it’s also important we recognize and welcome our relatives back into the circle. I’m proud of my cousin for doing what it takes to reconnect and also going above and beyond to help her communities.