The vision for wohemīwo came through in 2019, and it took 4 years to finally birth forth. Partially because I felt highly conflicted about adding to consumerism or enmeshing myself more deeply into capitalism. I knew that if I was going to start a business, it needed to evolve the system, not bolster it as is. I also recognize that I am personally walking the long path toward elderhood, and that the older I get, the more I want to give back- to the earth, to the children, to the future generations yet to come.
So I created a business model of increasing reciprocity, wherein I donate the percentage of profit from wohemīwo equal to the number of years I’ve breathed air on this planet. For example, I turn 30 in October. So in 2023 I will donate 30% of the profits from my creations in service to community healing. In 2024, it will increase to 31%, and so on.
I am no trust-fund or nepo baby, and have made my income through waitressing, sex work, and freelance art gigs since I was a teenager. Still my unearned privileges compound. And I feel a great debt of gratitude to the indigenous communities that have welcomed me into healing spaces and ceremonies that I never would have experienced without their generosity and kindness. The injustices in this world cannot be ignored with dignity and I intend to lend what talents I may have to the repair & regeneration of harmony.
With the help of a nonprofit called Modern Spirit, led by my friend and mentor Dr. Joe Tafur, we are creating a scholarship fund for Indigenous and Mexican women to attend a sacred ceremony called La Danza De Luna, or The Moondance. More information on the scholarship fund and La Danza forthcoming…
In addition to the Business Model for Elderhood supporting access to sacred ceremony, I aim to use wohemīwo as a vehicle for my personal artistic contributions to the global work of decolonization. Certain artworks, collections and partnerships will be entirely for the benefit of different indigenous groups, with 100% of profits going to BIPOC-led projects. I am excited to share the first of these collections toward the end of 2023.
I pray that I will continue to listen, learn, and grow in graceful directions, so that I can contribute to a more meaningful making of Beauty. And I pray that you join me.
With heart,
Maggie