Selected Exhibits > Connected

My late grandmother, Mary Malchoff, known to us as Umma—the Sugt’stun word for grandmother—was a radiant presence in my life and a beloved elder in our community. She passed down not only wisdom but strength. Her words still guide me: God is love. See the light to offset the darkness.
Umma’s adventurous spirit taught me that to live truly is to experience the world. Her boundless love became my lesson in compassion, and I carry it with me always.
I feel most alive when I dance. As a Paluwik traditional dance group member, I connect physically and spiritually with my ancestors. When I dance, I always return to myself. It brings out more of who we truly are.