The many faces

Written By Sew Yup'ik

this is the many faces of a tired soul

a soul that has been carrying years and years of trauma

the trauma that has scarred her deep into her bones

the bones that have held her upright to continue to keep going

to keep at it

to never give up

but this is the face of a tired soul

who has wept a sea of tears

the cuts of generational trauma has left her

tired

but she must keep going

because this curse of generational trauma

must and will stop with her

her children

my children they are my strength

and even though they open new wounds that have been

forgotten for many years

she must face those demons

in order to move forward

the tired that she feels can feel

overwhelming

but the determination to heal is overpowering

and that is what will keep her going

to never give up

to always keep moving forward

this is the many faces of a tired soul

the many faces of a tired soul

Sew Yup'ik

My name is Nicolette Corbett, but many know me as Nikki of Sew Yup’ik. I’m a Yup’ik artist, teacher, mother, and advocate from Bethel, Alaska, now living on the Kenai Peninsula. My work is grounded in ancestral knowledge by my three grandmothers, each of whom inspired me with their creativity, resilience, and love for our culture.

For over a decade, I’ve been traveling across Alaska teaching traditional Yup’ik sewing arts—especially qaspeq making and nasqurrun (headdress) sewing—as a way to reconnect our people to our roots and begin the process of generational healing. Each stitch is a form of resistance, a celebration, and a reclaiming of our cultural identity.

Through Sew Yup’ik, I offer workshops, tutorials, and handmade items rooted in Yup’ik tradition, with the intention to uplift, heal, and empower Indigenous communities. I believe that culture is medicine—and that by reviving our traditional practices, we help restore our wellbeing, identity, and belonging.

Quyana for being here. Whether you're joining a workshop, purchasing a handmade piece, or simply exploring—welcome to Sew Yup’ik.

https://www.sewyupik.com
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