This book expands on my 2025 Salish calendar, where each month is illustrated based on its Salish name. Indigenous cultures measure time through nature and seasonal activities. In the Bitterroot Salish language, “spq̓niʔ” means month, moon, sun, and clock, reflecting a deep connection to the land. Though the Bitterroot Salish adopted the Gregorian calendar, cultural traditions remain. As an urban Native, creating these calendars reconnects me with my heritage, and this book continues that journey

In my artist book, Urban Cedar, I explore the intersection of language, identity, and nature within urban landscapes. Learning Lushootseed, the Indigenous language of the land where I was born and raised, deepened my connection to Tacoma’s environment, revealing that nature speaks—we just need to understand its language.