Jordan: Let's start with your roots. Can you tell us about your name, your clan, and where you come from?

 

Jayli: Marashí idaashí xubáà'wía héc. Mii maxóxadic hi ciiga'ráàgac. My name is holy robe; I'm a part of the Alkali Lodge clan and a child of the Prairie Chicken clan. I come from chief two ravens of the hiraaca nuxbáàga. My maguu told me my name represents the robe that holds our sacred bundles. I do my best to live up to my name and carry maa aru cááwo' in a sacred manner, and walk this life in a good way. I come from the Nueta, Hiraaca, and Sahnish tribes on the Northern Great Plains, where my bloodline has thrived for thousands of years.

 

Jordan: You're known for your dedication to preserving your people's language. Can you share a meaningful phrase in your language and explain its significance?

 

Jayli: An important tradition we have is to excuse ourselves in front of our elders when we speak in front of them because they carry the wisdom of the old ones. So something we say is: "maarua'cagíha shewáàdhaarug daaba'dhagháà wíguaru" - which means, "If I don't say or do something right, make it okay for me." This can be addressed simultaneously by the elders and creator. My ultimate goal is to see our young people shine in all their indigenous glory and have a small hand in the guidance of getting them there. Even if I won't be alive to see the day, I'll be smiling from the heavens, and my heart will be full. Happiness is temporary, but wholeness and oneness are eternal. That is why I devote my life to our language; it is our blood and how creation speaks to and through us.

 

Jordan: Your passion for your culture is evident. What drives your work, and what message would you like to share with others?

 

Jayli: I pray to be a better relative, fulfill my duty as one of the people, and never stop fighting for my birthright to be who I am. I was born into debt to the future generations and the ones before us because of all the blessings and sacred teachings I would receive in this life. Our ancestors love us just as we love them. I always recognized that there are higher laws of the universe, so I know that we are the justice and answered prayers of the ones before us. I pray that we can all live up to that.

 

Jordan: You mentioned the importance of language in preserving your culture. Can you share a specific memory or experience that really drove home the importance of keeping your native language alive?

 

Jayli: I was named in a ceremony run by the renowned Leonard Crow dog in the basement of my grandmother's home when I was 12; hearing the teachings he had to share and the reverence in his voice captivated my spirit. I knew I had to follow that voice and learn about mada waa'aru'cáàwi (my ways.)

That following year, I was the tree girl at a sundance he was guiding, and he announced that every year we need a tree girl just like this one as he pointed at me with his staff. Since then, I have fasted for years and sacrificed my time and flesh for the betterment of my community and my spirit. At a young age, I wanted to be like maguu'o (my grandmother's) and teach the language. I never knew I would witness it coming full circle so soon, and my maguu would no longer be here. Feeling the sacred shift of stepping into these roles is overwhelming, yet it is my why, my honor, and my life's purpose.

 

Jordan: For those who may not be familiar with indigenous cultures, what's one aspect of your traditions or way of life that you think could benefit society as a whole if it were more widely understood or adopted?

 

Jayli: There's a teaching that most Indigenous people say that you might have heard: "We are all connected." It is a powerful statement. I think that understanding consciousness and connection isn't just a tradition or ideology for indigenous people. Terms can be very limiting. The energy of "creator" is all living things and within each of us. We are mirrors of one another, and if we can project pain, we can project healing and love. We are all connected, and when you embrace the human connection together, we can kill the curse that was placed on the universe. That is why we are here.

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