The Storyteller:

Raven’s Tale Studio is inspired by the Raven’s Tail weaving done by my Lingít ancestors, but I changed the spelling to “Tale” because our people are also known for documenting our stories, histories, and traditions through art. As a multidisciplinary artist, I love to incorporate different art forms in my photography.

I love to travel wherever my work takes me, but I carry a piece of home in my worldview wherever I go. My work is deeply rooted in my maternal homeland, Áak'w Kwáan Aaní (Juneau, Alaska), where I dream and create. I am of the Áak'w Kwáan, L'eeneidí, and Yaxtétaan lineage on my mother’s side, with Aztec roots from Mexico on my father’s side.

When I was born, I was given the Lingít name Yeeskanaalx Tláa by my great-great-grandmother, Kaachgóon, whose Lingít name I later received in adulthood. My English name is Rochelle Smallwood.

My work is vintage-inspired, cinematic, rich with storytelling, layered with raw emotion, and moved by the past. Others have described my style as whimsical and moody. I weave with colors and nature, and it is a creative collaboration. with those in front of the camera, allowing energy to flow naturally between us and informing which moments to capture.

Just as my ancestors who came before me, I weave stories to document our living histories and share our tales through art and storytelling.