Nevada County

hu·tum kʉle

May 14, 2026May 14, 2026by Ruth Chase

hu·tum kʉle is an interdisciplinary work combining painting and video as two interconnected parts of the same experience. Together, they explore dreaming as a source of guidance, healing, memory, and spiritual knowledge within Nisenan culture.

“In our culture, we are dreamers, where we learn new languages, and new things through our dreams.”

— Saxon Thomas, Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council, Member at Large

Developed through dialogue with Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Members, the work reflects stories and shared understandings of dreams as a place where knowledge, warnings, language, and connection can emerge.

**The Dreamers Show Us The Path**
acrylic, wax on canvas, 24 x 24
Created for HUSWEJ Collection

**‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts & Culture**
225 Broad Street
Nevada City, CA 95959

The painting depicts two hovering figures above ˀuƀa seo (Yuba River), with ˀestom janim (Marysville Buttes), the Ancestral Homelands of the Nisenan, in the distance. The darker figure suggests the Creator, spirit presence, or contact with the dream world, while the lighter outlined figure — drawn from a photograph of Lorena Davis — represents the dreamer.

Surrounding herbs reference the role of the dreamer, sometimes called the “Knock Down Person,” who returns from dreams carrying knowledge that could help the Tribe: healing plants, migration guidance, or warnings of danger.

“I was once visited by my late husband, John, who came to me in a dream to share a very important part of my future that helped me at a difficult time in my life.”

— Lorena Davis, Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Council

The video expands the work through the voices and presence of Tribal Members, creating a living dialogue between landscape, memory, dreams, and image. Rather than functioning separately, the painting and video inform one another — each revealing dimensions of the other that cannot exist alone.

“I believe that we are visited through our dreams.”

— Cindy Buero, Nevada City Rancheria Tribal Member

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT THE NEVADA CITY NISENAN

Eight months with California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project

March 12, 2024January 18, 2025by Ruth Chase

There is an exhibition that is the result of an eight month journey I’ve been on with California Heritage: Indigenous Research Project (CHIRP), “The Story of Land, Water, and People.”

'Uba Seo Nisenan Arts and Culture window in downtown Nevada City

In the Summer of 2023, it was so exciting to create and co-lead an outdoor experience at Sierra Friends Center/ Woolman in Nevada City, CA where the Tribal youth and elders went into the woods to create art installations with a focus on belonging to the environment.

This experience was part of a larger program to engage in Cultural practices and protocols as tools for healing, Cultural revitalization, and trauma mitigation.

I’m deeply grateful for this opportunity
to amplify Nisenan narratives through
the Arts. This journey has instilled in me a profound
appreciation for the transformative ability of storytelling
through artistic expression.

Working with Shelly Covert, Saxon Thomas, Mira Clark, and the Tribal Elders through weekly workshops, online and at ‘Uba Seo: Nisenan Arts and Culture, has been a very powerful experience.

Using the power of art to engage in
meaningful dialogue, to heal, and to educate
the public and ourselves transform lives.

Funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, through the Upstate California Creative Corps program and builds upon CHIRP’s Visibility Through Art initiative. It fosters collaborations between artists and Tribal culture bearers to increase public awareness and engage the community in discussions about Tribal social justice, Nisenan history, and environmental issues related to water and land.

I am a California Creative Corps Grantee through my work with CHIRP.

Saving the best for last……

The exhibition is the result of a journey the Tribe embarked on through a series of gatherings and workshops that centered on discussions about land, water, and people. The eight-month exchange resulted in the creation of paintings, drawings, beadwork, film, and sculpture.

OPENING ART RECEPTION
Saturday, March 16th, 6- 9:30 pm

EXHIBITING
Nisenan Tribal Member Artists: Shelly Covert, Ginger Covert, Lorena Davis, Sarah Thomas, Cindy Buero, Debra McBrien, Saxon Thomas
Participating Artists: Nikila Badua, Maile Claire, Mira Clark, Ruth Chase, Jan-Michelle Sawyer
Native | Nisenan Special Guest Artists: Tiffany Adams and Deerstine Madrone Suehead

The Story of Land, Water, and People will build on the foundation of CHIRP’s Visibility Through Art (VTA) initiative. This project coordinates collaborations among artists and Tribal Culture bearers to increase public awareness and engage the public related to social justice, through the lens of environment-related issues including, land, water, and people.

In addition, non-Tribal artists collaborated individually with CHIRP on artworks to create respectful and reflective works. These conversations come to light in this exhibition by utilizing art as the conduit. This event will promote the visibility of important Tribal social justice issues and expand conversations.

This activity is funded in part by the California Arts Council, a state agency, through the Upstate California Creative Corps program, administered by Nevada County Arts Council.