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Kevin Serna

@kevnserna

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Chicago, IL 🇲🇽

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Thank you 📸 @kevnserna for beautifully capturing @ukwakhwa for @cntraveler. Out now in the April issue, the story explores Becky and Steve’s Oneida heritage and traditions 🌽

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“Every time an Indigenous person plants a seed, that is an act of resistance, an assertion of sovereignty, and a reclamation of identity.”

For @cntraveler’s April issue, Minnevangelist co-founder @ashleahalpern profiled Rebecca and Steve Webster, Oneida Nation citizens who recently transformed @ukwakhwa, their 10-acre homestead on the Oneida reservation near Green Bay, into a nonprofit where community members and nontribal people alike learn the ins and outs of planting, growing, and harvesting Native foods.

“Through all of our trauma—boarding schools, removal, assimilation—corn has remained by our side and been an integral part of our ceremonial and daily life,” Rebecca says. “But there's a lot of embarrassment and shame when Indigenous people don't know how to grow food or speak their native language. They don't know because they weren't taught, because their parents weren't taught. We want to create a safe space for people to learn this stuff.”

Ukwakhwa is open to nontribal people because the Websters believe it's important to have good allies. While some community members are understandably skeptical, Rebecca would rather “control the narrative.” That's why she and Steve launched a YouTube channel in early 2020 covering everything from seed saving to braiding corn-husk flowers.

Traditional cooking and crafts are taught at Ukwakhwa, and its commissary abuts a new trading post where the shelves are stacked with Tuscarora white corn, blue vervain tea, and handwoven baskets. Future plans include opening guest cabins and launching a rez-centric food business.

When visiting Ukwakhwa, book a room at the Oneida-owned Radisson Hotel & Conference Center, about 10 minutes away. Native influences can be spotted everywhere from the Woodland Indian Art displays in the lobby to the Oneida-inspired dishes (fork-tender bison pot roast, white cornbread with apple-sage butter) at @cedarandsagegrill, the excellent hotel restaurant. To learn more about Oneida history and people, visit the @oneidanationmuseum or book a tour of the Oneida Long House (by appointment only).

👉To read Ashlea’s full story, tap our #linkinbio.
📷 by @kevnserna

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This beauty ✨ NEW BOOK IS OUT! Great work with the best team at @couriermedia

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Big book energy 📘
300 beautiful pages of the world's best shops. Too many good ones, but some favourites here. Big 💚 to the dream team who made this happen.

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Polaroids caught us looking cute at my niece’s party. 🥰☺️

Can you tell I got it bad for this guy? ❤️ ✨🌹 @kevnserna 😘

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Celebrated another trip around the sun. ✨🌞✨ 32 was a treasure of a year for me. I fell in love, reunited with family and friends and restarted my business after a wild pandemic, all the while with my pups by my side. I learned a lot about myself this past year and learned that with each year comes strength and a new sense of confidence. I’m excited to see what’s next, cause I’m feeling happy and cute starting 33. 💛

Portraits by @kevnserna ❤️ 🌹

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Summer Loop by Kevin Serna
@kevnserna
#ilagarchive #art #photography

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Summer Loop by Kevin Serna
@kevnserna
#ilagarchive #art #photography

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Summer Loop by Kevin Serna
@kevnserna
#ilagarchive #art #photography

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mmnt 5064 - @kevnserna

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Celebrated one year with this handsome fella. When you meet during a world pandemic you learn to get creative with at home date nights. Given the times, our anniversary was celebrated at home but made extra special thanks to my baby @kevnserna . So happy we found each other. 😘❤️ Happy Anniversary. ❤️🥰

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Image by photographer @kevnserna

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