Native American Writer
Introduction to Culture
by
Kamea Clark
Let us remember the wisdom they left for us to share,
From our music and dance to the way we used to live
A shared gift from our Creator above us.
The heart of our land where the river flows freely,
And the wind blows through our mountains
A woven piece of art of the earth and sky
Their lives the spirits of our ancient and wise ancestors.
Hello and welcome to my website!
My name is Kamea Clark, but you may call me Mia. I am
from Southwestern Colorado, where I reside in a small
Indigenous community known as Ute Mountain. I am of
Ute and European descent. I am delighted to share my
diverse experiences as a writer, poet, actor, and
community advocate.
Ute Mountain
About the Dance:
”Our ceremonial dance unfolds in mid-June
in the start of Spring when time is clear,
people gather side-by-side while drums play
and the children will sway.
The music plays and the drums are loud,
yet only men may touch them with pride
We dance for three full days
to sing and dance with gathered strength and care.
Women dance with grace and cheer,
but must not touch the instruments they hear,
No one dances with their kin
as it is time to make new friends again.
Embroidered moccasins and shawls,
vibrant tassels and ribbons on shirts,
we follow the beat until it is no longer heard.
We celebrate the life of the bear
who gifted us peace, love, and nature’s embrace.
A hidden blessing in our beautiful tradition.
With heartfelt thanks and delicious treats,
we part until we meet again.”
About the Bear:
“Our dance honors the beauty of nature
the bear we celebrate for what it gave.
It once watched the sky shine bright
and the stars all throughout the night
with the strength to stand and the heart to brave.
They guide us from the cold when it is done
to rise again and meet the sun.
The sight of flowers, dirt, and trees close by
the earth brings no harm when we treat it right.
They showed us before many did
To love, to fight, to dance with joy, to see the world anew
Our life is empty without the animals around
so we dance in harmony with the movements we learned
After a long winter in a quiet den,
the spirit of the bear is full of calm and might
we can learn to wake up and live again
to dream by the moon and wake up in light.”
This is my first film: ESCAPE
COMMUNICATION
Lead Actress in ESCAPE
Lead Actress in THE STRENGTH OF SIBLINGS
Actress in TIWAHE FITNESS ZONES
Actress in TIWAHE TOUR DE UTE – A JOURNEY OF WELLNESS
LEADERSHIP
2015 Student Film Award, LA SKINS FEST
2016 Jury Award, Garifuna Film Festival
2017 Community Leadership Award, LA SKINS FEST
2018 Student Film Award, Garifuna Film Festival
2019 Community Impact Award, LA SKINS FEST
INTERNATIONAL AWARDS
Anthem Awards – UMUT publications
Telly Awards – UMUT films
Communicator Awards – UMUT Publications