Our Story
My name is Sondra S. Segundo. Haida Art means many things to me: music, weaving, the art of language, Formline art, illustrations, smoking salmon, drying seaweed, collecting herring eggs (yum), love...I can go on. I am still a student in learning our ancient art form “Formline”. I know I still have a long way to go. Although I don’t aspire to become a master in the artform, I want to learn it correctly so I can use it on my regalia, clothing creations & book illustrations.
My real passion, the one that calls out to me most, is singing....especially in my Xaad kil díi kwíi’áas - My precious Haida language. I learned how to sing gospel song “How Great Thou Art” in Xaad kil by listening to my elder Erma Lawrence. I sing this song at many events. I’ve began composing songs in my endangered tongue (featured in my children’s books) with the help of my cousin Ben Young. I hungered to learn more of my language so we figured out a way to bring Xaad kil classes to the Seattle area. I began writing grants and raised enough funds to start the Haida Roots Language & Youth Arts program. My family, friends and I are now re-learning our language and I hope to compose many more songs in Xaad kil.
My maternal grandparents are Kaigani Haida from SE Alaska. They taught us to keep our culture alive through: songs, language, eating traditional foods, honoring our unique art form, visiting our tribal lands, and keeping us close to our NW Coast Native family and community here in Seattle. Today, I help to preserve my culture in many ways. Along with learning Xaad kil and composing songs, I use my traditional Haida designs to hand paint on contemporary shoes and to print on clothing. My family and I make traditional regalia (button blankets, hats woven from cedar bark, moccasins, dresses, tunics, aprons, jewelry, carvings and drums) to wear in performances for our dance group, the Haida Heritage Foundation in which I am current drum and dance leader. I also write and illustrate children’s picture books in which I use as teaching tools and in presentations for children.
