The Sacred Little Ones series closed with clay.

Sacred Art: Nurturing Creative Expression was guided by Tekenya Sanchez (Dine/Mexika), a ceramicist and artist who launched the studio Tlalli Ceramics in 2023 with a focus on connecting to earth-based traditions. Elena Nourrie (Hopi, Cherokee, Chicana), the So’oh-Shinálí Sister Project’s Executive Director, joined to help lead space in community.

Children played, worked with clay, and created art alongside their caregivers. Through movement and hands-on art play, the group explored how creative expression can teach kindness, respect, and relationships. Facilitators also uplifted storytelling through tribal creation stories and land-based connections that tie intertribal relatives together.

The organization describes the session as a chance to witness how art deepens connection to heritage and helps build a strong sense of self, and says the experience invites Native youth into cultural activities that build confidence, foster belonging, and connect them more deeply to their roots.

Native youth are impacted in such a beautiful way when they get the right support that they need. They thrive and they flourish through seeing themselves in spaces and feeling safe with their traditions and culture, and even their community around them.
 — Tekenya Sanchez, ceramicist

In framing the session, the organization points to how much of Native and Indigenous creative expression lives in stories, song, dance, and music, and how celebrating those arts reflects the diversity across Native and Indigenous communities while building identity and belonging.

This final video closed out the campaign’s partnership with First 5 LA. Across all three sessions, the campaign’s goals stayed the same: spread awareness of existing resources, celebrate and amplify culturally affirming services, and urge policymakers to advocate for services and funding tailored to Native and Indigenous families.

Resources for families

The campaign’s Birth to Five resource guide runs more than 25 pages, covering childcare, parenting support, early education, special education, financial support, food security, and healing.

Read the Birth to Five Resource Guide

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