Heidi Brandow

A Diné (Navajo) and Kanaka Maoli woman, Heidi restores and cultivates plants traditionally used for Navajo textile dyes, many of which also hold phytoremediative properties, so they can heal land damaged by extractive industries while sustaining cultural practices tied to them.

“My regenerative land care practice is rooted in Indigenous knowledge systems, relational accountability, and material-based learning. Through the cultivation of dye plants, I explore the connections between land, art, and cultural practice—particularly as they relate to Navajo weaving traditions and plant-based knowledge. This work is not only about growing plants, but about restoring relationships: between people and land, between artists and materials, and across communities.

I approach this practice as both an artist and facilitator, working collaboratively with weavers, ethnobotanists, and educators to support shared learning and exchange. Current efforts include developing demonstration gardens, supporting plant access for future dye use, and creating resources that make this knowledge more accessible. Regeneration, in this context, is both ecological and cultural—it is about tending to land while also supporting the continuation and evolution of Indigenous knowledge systems through care, reciprocity, and long-term commitment.”