This is a dried forget-me-not flower embedded in paper I made. 
My family immigrated over a century ago, so I don’t have many objects to tie me back to my ancestor’s home countries; however I can talk about Northern Wisconsin, and the Brule River where my mom’s side has had land for over 6 generations. A house was first built in 1889, and rebuilt in 1925 after a fire destroyed it. Agnes, the original matriarch, set up a trust to keep the property in the family indefinitely; it couldn’t be sold, and time spent there had to be divided equally amongst her 5 children and their descendants. Now, I get to spend 1-3 weeks there yearly with my family, grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles.
When we’re there, it’s a rule that we can’t use electronics. We spend our time together (or alone) but always with the river weeds and quiet rapids, with the stone and wood walls. My favorite thing has always been picking flowers from the riverbed. The land offers a sense of grounding and tranquility that I carry with me even when I’m away. 
Though I only spend a short part of my years there, this place is one of the most important parts of my life and art. This has to do with its breadth of significance to my living family and ancestors. I think most women in my family would say their favorite flower is a forget-me-not. Our shared connection to this nature feels profound. Land has the power to carry psychic and spiritual energies strong enough to bring a whole lineage into one collective being. 

– Tenley

Relationship:  Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more Great-grandchild of im/migrant or more