Created from a deep relationship with the Earth, I Am is more than a children’s book — it is a living offering that weaves storytelling, Indigenous language revitalization, and responsibility to place into a single, intentional work. Guided by Tribal sovereignty and Earth-centered teachings, Chiffon Lark’s approach honors language as a vessel of memory, worldview, and relationship, allowing each community to shape how their words are shared. Through quiet pacing, open space, and reverence for land as teacher, I Am invites children to recognize their belonging within a living system — affirming that their voices, stories, and languages are not only worth preserving, but meant to be carried forward.
Hi Chiffon, thank you so much for taking the time to share your work and vision with our readers. We’re honored to learn more about I Am, so let’s jump right in. I Am is both a children’s book and an Indigenous language revitalization initiative—what first inspired you to bring storytelling and language preservation together in this way?
I Am was born from a relationship with the Earth. Long before language lives on the page, it lives in land—in seasons, animals, waters, and the ways we learn to listen. For many Indigenous peoples, language is how we remember our responsibilities to place. I wanted to create a story for children that begins with that relationship, one that reminds them they are not separate from the Earth, but in conversation with it. Storytelling and illustrations felt like the most natural way to do that, because stories are how land speaks to us across generations.
You’ve emphasized that language is not separate from story, but the vessel that carries worldview, memory, and relationship to place. How has this belief shaped the way you approach creating and illustrating I Am?
I approached I Am with the understanding that language is shaped by land. For many indigenous communities, words emerge from how a people move across their environment, how they observe life, and how they understand balance. That understanding shaped both the writing and the illustrations. The book leaves space—visually and narratively—so children can feel the presence of Earth rather than being instructed about it. The pacing, the imagery, and the simplicity are intentional, allowing the story to mirror the natural rhythms of listening, observing, and belonging.
A core part of the project is prioritizing Tribal sovereignty over standardization, with each community guiding how their language is represented and shared. What has it meant to you to collaborate so closely with Tribal leaders and language programs across different regions?
Each Tribal community has a distinct relationship to land, and that relationship shapes how language is held, shared, and protected. Prioritizing sovereignty meant honoring those relationships rather than forcing a single framework. Collaborating with Tribal leaders and language programs has reinforced that revitalization is not just about preservation—it’s about responsibility. Allowing communities to guide how their language appears in I Am ensures that the book remains rooted in respect for place, protocol, and lived knowledge.
Seeing I Am translated into multiple Indigenous languages must be deeply meaningful. What moments or responses from communities or children have stayed with you most throughout this process?
Some of the most meaningful moments have been when children make connections on their own—pointing to the Earth in an illustration, asking about animals, or noticing how the land is present in the story. Many people have shared that the book feels familiar, even without explanation. Those responses remind me that the Earth is a shared teacher. When children recognize themselves as part of the natural world rather than separate from it, they are then motivated to protect it.
At its heart, your work is an offering to land, community, and future generations. As you look ahead, how do you hope I Am continues to support Indigenous language revitalization and help children grow up knowing their voices and stories truly belong?
I hope I Am continues to affirm that belonging begins with relationship—to land, to language, and to community. As children grow, I want the book to serve as a reminder that their voices are connected to something ancient and ongoing. By grounding language revitalization in Earth-centered teachings, I Am supports not only the survival of words, but the renewal of relationships. My hope is that future generations grow up knowing they are part of a living system—and that their stories, like the Earth itself, deserve care and continuity.
Links:
- www.chiffonlark.com
- IG: @chiffonlark
