Her Story
About Katherin
I've been working in Aboriginal ancestral art for about four years now with Livity Tree Art, which I founded with my cousin and another artist. We focus on North American Aboriginal art from the Caribbean, specifically from the Kalanago, Garifuna, and Tejano tribes - cultures that have been largely erased or haven't been given the same importance due to colonization. We equate our work to Australian Aboriginal art, bringing that same level of recognition to these first tribes. My personal heritage includes Irish, Kalanago, and African bloodlines, and we celebrate all cultures in our work. Beyond selling art, our mission is to educate communities and reconnect people to ancestral wisdom and Indigenous practices. Everything we create is on recycled canvas and eco-friendly materials because we honor the earth in all our practices. I'm also a single mother who has overcome significant health challenges, including having a transplant, and I've healed through reconnection to ancestral wisdom. I've gone from having depression, anxiety, and bipolar issues to nothing at all without medication. Now I'm cultivating my personal brand as a speaker and developing classes that outline my journey to healing, especially with mental health, so I can share this story with other women who need it today.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Katherin
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to my personal journey of overcoming incredible challenges as a single mother who has had a transplant and huge medical issues. Coming through all of that and doing this on my own, my proudest moments have been when I get recognition and am able to go into the community to speak on these topics and become more confident in this area. Every time we're able to get into community and show who we are, or when we go viral online and people become aware of these tribes and are happy to see this type of content - that's when I feel most proud. I've also healed through this work. Knowing your identity and having that connection to ancestral wisdom and the practices that really help you heal in a more indigenous way has been transformative. I've been able to get my transplant out, I live a pretty good life even though I still have a few health problems, and my mental health has been even better. I've gone from having depression, anxiety, even bipolar issues to nothing at all and not being on medication. I think that's just such a story that women need today, and that's kind of how I've gotten here.
02What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important in my work are authenticity, ethical practices, and reconnection to Earth. We make sure everything we do is as authentic as possible. Even the art that comes out is on recycled canvas, is eco-friendly, and is not fast fashion, because we do put things on clothing. It really has to be always on an Indigenous, Aboriginal level, where we still honor the earth, honor ourselves, and honor what's right in our communities. So authenticity, ethical practices, and reconnection to Earth are our main values.
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