Artist Ayala has gained a notable following on Instagram with her colorful portraits of Latina icons like Selena and Celia Cruz. She discusses her journey to reclaiming her own Indigeneity and has advice for anyone looking to do the same. "I came across a quote once that really resonated with me. It read, 'I am proudly indigenous because my mother & grandmother were not allowed to be.' Like many who were born into identifying with Latino culture, our racial identity has been completely stripped from us due to colonization," she says. "Through the struggle and survival of my ancestors, I have the opportunity of self actualization. Sharing the history of the native people of the Americas, colonization and the African diaspora will greatly support Indigenous people. A vast number of people who identify with Latino culture do not even know they have very high percentages of Native American blood in their DNA. There is also something to be said about our Indigenous people at the border who are suffering from generations of trauma and poverty. There is still barely any representation of Native American people in all forms of media, especially within Latinx media unfortunately, and this needs to change. Ayala says she suspected she had Indigenous ancestry because of history and also her physical features. But was curious about what her numerical breakdown looked like. "A DNA test revealed I am 80% Indigenous. It was a physical and emotional confirmation of what I already knew," she adds. "My family was never able to embrace being Native American with pride and in seeing my results I have a stronger sense of self esteem. I would recommend this experience for other people who were born into identifying with Latino culture but are racially Native American."
Where to find her:
@artbyayala
