The spine connects different parts of our skeleton to each other. It is a chain of bones flexible due to elastic ligaments and spinal disks.

This piece of peace, hand drawn in 2017, is my interpretation of the Spine of the Black Village.

The spine is the connector of all that we need to survive. Each component with a specific purpose, and a specific provision. Each section an essential part of the greater whole. There is no section that can be severed without severe consequence.

From the land, to the water, to the air. All is fully sustainable within the spine if we invest in our own longevity. Cultivate our own strength and connection to the earth and to the power of our ancestry.

Our collective spine is strengthened by the knowledge gained from all experiences within the village. The original piece lives with the Black Mountainier S. Brown. This man has a storied career in survival tactics as well as strategies needed to thrive in nature, in finance, in village structures, and in combat. He is one of the strongest vertebrae in the village, and thus an integral part of the spine.