Miriam Zmiewski-Angelova

Ancestry: Choctaw / Cherokee / Sac and Fox / Black / Ashkenazi
Based In: Seattle, WA
Email: zmiewski@gmail.com

About the Art
Shemvchi likmvt i̱ holitobli li ("When I adorn them, I honor them”) is a multi-media applique panel replicating our oldest known family photo from about the 1880s or 1890s of my maternal great-great-great-grandparents Sarah Burns and George Mickle and one of their nine children.

Composed into an eclectic tapestry, this piece adorns our elders with fine fabrics, freshwater pearls, wild turkey feathers, and elegant cultural and period clothing articles and styles to honor their life and liberties interrupted by government-sponsored racist policies and crimes against Native Americans and enslaved Africans. With the intent of paying homage to their memory, the story of my family is a common one of erasure and historical trauma. With the help of archivists and our family, we learned that she was Choctaw and Cherokee from Alabama and he was formerly enslaved and presumably moved to Alabama by slavers. Their sparse records were aligned with a pattern of suspected and known white-supremacists motivated arson's intent on terrorizing and displacing newly freed Black residents and Natives from their lands. As a result, my elders were constantly on the move with their children. The history of our family shows resilience, persistence, love, and strength to create a better life for their children even while they face constant threats of white domestic terrorism.

“Walking, I am listening to a deeper way. Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me. Be still, they say. Watch and listen. You are the result of the love of thousands.” (Linda Hogan). We walk in the footsteps of our ancestors every day. Even if we cannot sense them, they are always with us. It is our responsibility to carry on their stories in order to honor their sacrifices, successes, and their memories. Shemvchi likmvt i̱ holitobli li is my reminder that sacred responsibility to my ancestors.

Yakoke.

About the Artist
Miriam is an Afro-Indigenous mother, artist, gardener, educator, and activist/advocate for BIPOC, Two-Spirit, child-and-family-focused community initiatives. On her mother’s side, she is Alabama Choctaw, Cherokee, Sac/Fox and Black/African American, and Ashkenazi on her father’s side. Her parents are Dorothy Perry and Paul Zmiewski. She is of the Burns and Mickle family from Mobile and Cherokee Territory Alabama. She is also of the Redstone Running Deer Sundance Family, adopted by Augustine Molina Sr. (Yaqui) and Martha Molina (Yaqui). Her godmother is Cecilia Jimenez, her aunt is Mary Jane Buenamea, and her grandfather is Raymond Maldonado. Their pipe comes from the Bear Hills family in Mission South Dakota. At her naming ceremony in 2015, she was adopted Yaqui and given the name Tewalim Wiikit meaning “Bluebird”.

Miriam was born in Chicago, but left at age 3-months to Taipei, Taiwan until age 7, with her parents as her father was studying to be a traditional medicine practitioner. Following this, Miriam moved back to the U.S. and lived in various cities including Tucson, and now Seattle. Miriam completed her undergraduate work at Northeastern Illinois University in Psychology and Education. She completed her Masters of Public Health at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Her work focused on Maternal and Child Health in Indigenous Populations and included a secondary focus in Emergency Management. She holds a P3 Executive Leadership certificate from the University of Washington – College of Education. Miriam currently works for the City of Seattle as an Early Learning Coach. Prior to this position, she served as the Preschool Director of Daybreak Star Preschool.

The focus of Miriam’s artwork is centered around reconnecting to culture and tradition. She has been genuinely honored by the many individuals who have taught her how to bead, sew, weave, and sing. Recently, she has been inspired to create “story skirts” that connect to the wearer’s family, life work, or other elements of their being. She is inspired by her two children and the opportunity to tell the story of family, old and new traditions, and developing a positive self-image.

Miriam and her partner Stoyan are proud parents of two beautiful brown babies: Nashoba (wolf – 6 years old) and Nitalusa (Black bear – 6 months old). Whenever possible and safe, she can be seen in the community marching, singing and crafting, or in the garden playing in the dirt.

Shemvchi likmvt i holitobli li ("When I adorn them, I honor them)

satin, velvet, buckskin, lace, kente cloth, cotton, freshwater pearls, wild turkey feathers, seed beads, 2021

This piece pays homage to my elders who were unable to live the life they deserved due to the government-sponsored racist policies toward Native Americans and African Americans. With the help of archivists, we learned that she was Choctaw and Cherokee from Alabama and he was formerly enslaved and possibly moved to Alabama. Their sparse records coincide with a pattern of suspected white-supremacists motivated arsons intent on terrorizing and displacing Natives and Black people from the area. As a result, my elders were constantly on the move with their children.

I am adorning in an attempt to honor their struggles.

Dresses in All My Relations

cashmere wool, handmade ethiopian textile, satin ribbon, 2018

*modified reproductions matching the individual's ancestry available upon request

Inspired by the personal family story of Huītzilcuāuhtli (Leslie) Jimenez, I sought out to create a piece that embodied all of her relations (Hopi, Ethiopian, Mexican) in one distinctive piece of regalia. This dress combines the Hopi manta style dress, cashmere wool made in Mexico, appliqué ribbon work featuring Hopi rain clouds, and Mexican flag colors. The neckline and hemline are finished with a handmade traditional Ethiopian fabric.

Sacred Mother Moon Ribbon Skirt

cotton, satin ribbon, 2019

Ribbon skirt created for Leanne Rye Brock, a Choctaw/Black doula, birth worker, and lactation consultant in the Seattle area. This skirt features her birth services logo and embodiment of her life's work on appliqué.

Sky Mama and Earth Baby Ribbon Skirt

cotton, satin ribbon, 2020

*reproduction available upon request

This ribbon skirt was developed for Camie Goldhammer (Sisseton-Wahpeton), a Native doula, lactation consultant, and founder and chair of the Native American Breastfeeding Coalition of Washington. The inspiration came to me by way of her passion for educating families about breastfeeding and her love of any clothing featuring positive images of breastfeeding and breast.

Beginning in Tradition

embossed cotton, satin ribbon, 2020

*various designs available from preemie/newborn and up

This infant ribbon skirt, modeled by my 5-month old daughter Nitalusa, features a delicate whimsical embossed butterfly pattern and adorned with medicine wheel color satin ribbon. Creating culturally responsive spaces, experiences, and items that show children that they are precious and sacred is at the heart of nearly everything I do. As a mother of two spirited children, I relish any opportunity to wrap them in love and culture.

yəhaw̓!

elk hide, sterling silver posts, hand drawn and painted design, 2019

contact artist for purchase

I was inspired by the story of yəhaw̓ and then subsequently announcement of the yəhaw̓ art show. Unfortunately, I was not able to submit my art in time. These pieces were created and gifted to Tracy Rector and Asia Tail as a thank you for curating an amazing experience for Seattle Native artists.

Rainbow Dentalium

dentalium shell, delica seed beads, turquoise, sterling silver, 2018

contact artist for purchase

These beautiful earrings give love to Two-Spirit pride and integrate dentalium shells, Delica seed beads, Turquoise stone, and sterling silver findings.

My Ancestors Story Skirt

cotton, satin ribbon, buckskin, 2018

*similar reproductions available to create

This very personal ribbon skirt illustrates my family story as well as my first few attempts at applique in this style. The skirt pays homage to the many strong and culturally diverse women in my family. One representing each part of our family lineage: African American, Choctaw, Cherokee, Sauk/Fox, Ashkenazi. Additional figures represent my partner's Bulgarian family and key individuals (Maori and Two-Spirit) who were significant in my life.

Love is Love Shawl

nylon, cotton, satin ribbon, chainette fringe, 2019

This shawl was created for the 2019 Seattle Pride Parade and gifted to Hank Cooper. Figures represent the spectrum of genders and relationships to promote a message of love and inclusion embraced by Two-Spirit community.