Chiffon Lark

White Mountain Apache / Mescalero Apache

United States

Chiffon Lark (b.1989) was raised in the Central Valley in California. Both her parents are of Indigenous descent. Her father is an enrolled member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe (b.1965 Texas) and her mother (b. 1968 Arizona) is Mescalero Apache and Mexican descent. Chiffon's GreatGrandfather (b.1919 Mexico) was a peyotero, or medicine person, and a member of the NAC (Native American Church). He was consistently in and out of jail for holding ceremonies before the The American Indian Religious Freedom Act of 1978 (AIRFA). He found work in the 1940's bringing indigenous peoples from Mexico into Texas illegally as a "Coyote". He met Chiffon' great grandmother (b. 1919, New Mexico) in Mescalero Apache territory and they had 12 children together. Her mother, and maternal Grandmother (b. 1946 Texas), raised Chiffon and taught her the ways of Sacred Earth. Being especially close with her Grandmother, Chiffon was raised to know how to grow food from the land. She learned how to use plants and other species to cultivate physical healing through indigenous food preparation. Her Grandmother encouraged her to continue this and eventually taught Chiffon how to rely on her Dreams and prayer for guidance. Chiffon is a full time Artist/illustrator who specializes in Alcohol Ink Illustrations of Wildlife. Her volunteer work involves helping recovering addicts in her community through sponsorship and emotional support.