Shuína Skó
Two-Spirit Storyteller & Poet | Author | Indigenous Rights Activist
SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
Shuína Skó is a dynamic & engaging speaker
Shuína is available for virtual and in-person events throughout the United States & Canada
To contact Shuína for inquiries about availability and rates, click HERE
To view Shuína's Bio & Speaking Engagement Agreement, click HERE
UPCOMING
SPEAKING
ENGAGEMENTS
2023 - 2024
Shuína is collaborating with the State of Oregon Department of Health & Human Services and The Klamath Tribes to create materials for the recruitment of Indigenous Resource Parents/Homes
Shuína is collaborating with the State of Oregon Department of Health & Human Services and several Indigenous artists - of all mediums - on an interactive art display that will ignite all five senses and share engaging cultural aspects of the nine federally recognized tribes in Oregon
Shuína is collaborating with the Klamath Tribes to create culturally relevant and Klamath Tribes specific children's books
Shuína is in the process of writing new books "No More Missing & Murdered Indigenous Relatives: Book of Poetry", "Earth Teachings: Indigenous Poetry", and "We Survive: Indigenous Poetry for Suicide Prevention," all of which will be available on Amazon
OCT
currently accepting virtual
& in-person requests
FOR NEW REQUESTS:
Contact Shuína via email
Shuína will be performing spoken word poetry at Indigenous Celebration: Gathering of Families in Montana (In-person)
Shuína will be performing spoken word poetry at an Allstate Insurance annual event (Virtual)
NOV
currently accepting virtual
& in-person requests
FOR NEW REQUESTS:
Contact Shuína via email
Shuína will be performing spoken word poetry at the Native Heritage Festival to celebrate Indigenous peoples and educate the greater community in Oregon (In-person)
DEC
currently accepting virtual
& in-person requests
FOR NEW REQUESTS:
Contact Shuína via email
Shuína currently has open availability
PAST
SPEAKING
ENGAGEMENTS
2023
Sept
Shuína is providing a workshop for the annual Tribal-State ICWA Conference
(In Person) Info coming soon...
(Virtual) Shuína is featured in the Oregon Humanities article, "Sacred Instructions: A Two-Spirit Klamath tribal member connects with her voices and visions," written by Derek DeForest
(In Person) Shuína provided a cultural workshop highlighting the positive impact of embracing our cultural identity and using our voice at the BIPOC Wellness Retreat; a rejuvenating and empowering in-person self-care event for Oregonians in the PDS Workforce, held at the Oregon Garden Resort
July 30th
Shuína performed spoken word poetry as the Featured Poet at LIVE! on Elgin
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry
To view photos of Shuína on the Pieces of Us Instagram page, click HERE!
To view a reel (aka short video), click HERE!
Shuína performed spoken word poetry and participated as a panelist for the University of Iowa Pride Panel
(Virtual) Shuína performed spoken word poetry for the National American Indian & Alaska Native Childhood Trauma TSA, University of Iowa College of Public Health
Shuína performed spoken word poetry and was a panelist at the ODHS Employee Resource Group "2023 PRIDE Conference: Pride Across The Ages"
(Virtual - Zoom) Shuína was a panelist and performed spoken word poetry at the Oregon Department of Human Services Employee Resource Group Pride Conference. The following topics were covered: Coming out and what that experience like; The societal climate when becoming a part of the LGBTQIA2s+ community and the impacts this had; Intergenerational queer friendships and their importance; How things changed/stayed the same for LGBTQIA2s+ people in our lifetime; What is unique to our generation of LGBTQIA2s+ folks and what is similar to other generations; Closing: What is one piece of advice you have for other queer folks in your generation?
Shuína performed spoken word poetry for the closing of the Western Region Tribe/State Biannual ICWA gathering
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry for the Tribal and State of Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Western Region Tribe/State Biannual ICWA gathering, hosted by The Office of Tribal Affairs. The event was held at The Confederated Tribes of the Grand Ronde Powwow Grounds (a federally recognized Tribe that includes over 30 Tribes and bands from western Oregon, northern California, and southwest Washington).
(In Person) Shuína did the videography for Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services New Building Grand Opening and created a custom video for social media and website distribution.
To view the video, click HERE!
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry for the "Out in the Wild Festival" Two-Spirit and queer / LGBTQIA+ event held at Smith Rock State Park, Oregon. The poems performed are from Shuína's recently published book "Heart Poems for the Hopeless Romantic," an inclusive and sex-positive book of poems inspired by queer love, lust, and loss, as well as their book "Two-Spirit Journeying: Flowing In & Out of Love." Cultural teachings provided by Shuína included connection to, awareness of, and offering gratitude for our ancestors, Creation, and each other.
For more information about the festival, click HERE!
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry surrounding topics of Missing & Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit (MMIWG2S), suicide prevention, education, and Indigenous identity. A special customized poem was created for the symposium participants then shared during the ending ceremony. The custom poem is available to Oregon Department of Education staff by contacting TAPP leadership.
For more information about TAPP, click HERE!
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word from their books "Warrior Roses" and "Big Love-mo stinta", and their poem titled "Time's True Nature" during the closing of "Fatherhood Is Sacred®, Motherhood Is Sacred® Training" at Oregon Institute of Technology
For more information about the training, click HERE!
(In Person) Shuína was an honoured guest speaker at the flag ceremony held by the State of Oregon Department of Human Services in collaboration with The Klamath Tribes Tribal Council, Administration, and Social Services Department. Shuína performed poetry, reading from "She Is Matriarch," and gave teachings on aspects of The Klamath Tribes history with the State and Federal government, as well as on cultural practices/traditions regarding the ceremony activities: opening ceremonial blessing, honour hand drum song, and smudging. The Klamath Tribes flag was raised and is flown alongside the State and U.S. flags in Klamath Falls Oregon, which is the first time in history that this has occurred in the State of Oregon.
(In Person) Shuína created nine poetic affirmations for IllumiNative, "a Native woman-led racial & social justice org building power for Native people by amplifying Native voices, stories & issues," to empower Indigenous women for Women's History Month. These affirmations were added to IllumiNative Instagram and Facebook pages.
To view the affirmations on Instagram, click HERE
To view the affirmations on Facebook, click HERE
(Virtual) Shuína read from their books "Warrior Roses" and "Big Love - mo stinta" for the Lane Literary Guild & Eugene Public Library “Windfall” online reading series.
(In-Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry from their books Warrior Roses, Heart Poems For The Hopeless Romantic, and Two-Spirit Journeying at the Southern Oregon University (SOU) Queer Indigenous Gathering event in Ashland Oregon. This event was hosted by the Queer Indigenous Studies course in the Native American Studies (NAS) program.
(Virtual - Zoom) Shuína provided ICWA training to Oregon Wraparound Portland State University (PSU) staff for their equity meeting. The training covered: How ICWA came to be, the importance of ICWA, why there are efforts being made to dismantle ICWA, and how PSU educators can be supportive of ICWA in their work training those who serve Indigenous communities.
(In-Person) Shuína provided training to Morrison Child & Family Services Parent Mentors and other staff in Portland, OR. The training covered: Rapport building through using culturally specific interactions that foster more meaningful connections; Providing trauma-informed care while being sensitive to culture; Understanding the origin of present social issues experienced by the Indigenous community. Throughout the training Shuína performed spoken word poetry, sharing poems from their books "Warrior Roses", "Big Love-mo stinta", "She is Matriarch", and upcoming book "No More Missing and Murdered Indigenous Relatives" (scheduled release date: May 5th).
This is a shame-free, inclusive, and sex-positive book containing 28 short stories inspired by queer love, lust, and loss
(In Person) Shuína shared poetry from their book "Big Love - mo stinta" in California's State Capital
View Sacramento LGBT Community Center HERE!
(Virtual - Facebook Live) Shuína was a guest on “The Cheíí Show” spotlight Season 3 Episode 11.
Information for The Cheíí Show HERE!
(Virtual) Canvasback Books highlighted Shuína on their Facebook and Instagram social media pages for being an author whose books they carry onsite. Books carried at Canvasback Books: She Is Matriarch, Two-Spirit Journeying, Big Love-mo stinta, and Warrior Roses.
2022
(Virtual) Shuína was invited to share their expertise through an interview with Gemic, a strategy and innovation consultancy, for a project focusing on "how to address the harm and improve LGBTQIA+ experiences on social media, in the US, with a focus on vulnerable and stressed communities and individuals."
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry at Urban Legends Poetry Collective during the open mic at Origin Arts & Community Centre in Ottawa Ontario and featuring headlining poet Sydellia Ndiaye
Event Information HERE!
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry in downtown Ottawa during the open mic Riverbed Reads event, a special collaboration between Riverbed and Qu’ART. This event is purposed to "heighten LGBTQ2S+/queer artistic activity and broaden intersectional discourse in the Capital Region" and hosted literary performances from Elaina Martin and Rhiannon Ng Cheng Hin, and the musical stylings of Gretchen Phillips
Event Information HERE!
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word poetry during the open mic at the Riverbed Reading Series alongside Toronto's Rasiqra Revulva, Montreal's Cloud Circuit and Ottawa's Khaleefa "Apollo the Child" Hamdan, hosted at Club Saw Art Gallery in Ottawa Canada
Event Information HERE!
(Virtual - ZOOM) Shuína presented spoken word poetry and an overview of the custom design/logo they created for the 2022 Tribal-State ICWA Conference. Shuína gave teachings on the beauty of culture that ended on a highly inspirational note! The conference theme is from the quote found on the logo, “We are not the ripples, we are the drop” and per an excerpt from the logo description, it "speaks to the importance of each of us taking personal responsibility for our actions – or lack of action – and how we affect others now and for generations to come... Be curious about the beauty of tribal culture and supportive of that which supports the continuation of it." Conference hosted by State of Oregon Department of Human Services Tribal Affairs unit and provided to Tribal and State employees throughout Oregon.
Event Information HERE!
(In Person) Shuína is performed spoken word and covered "contemporary issues faced by tribal communities, understanding their origin, and exploring cultural practices rooted in healing," provided to Oregon Department of Human Services Child Welfare Clackamas office
(In Person) Shuína was a honored guest participant at The Klamath Tribes "First Foods Roundtable" community event at goos ogli gowa cultural center. This roundtable is a facilitated discussion on Klamath First Foods and the importance of future management and restoration. The Klamath Tribes, in partnership with Tahoma Peak Solutions and funding support from the Catena Foundation, initiated the First Foods Roundtable for the Klamath Basin. The primary goal is elevating the importance of, and encouraging the incorporation and protection of First Foods of the Klamath Basin and its tribes
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word for the closing of the Suicide Prevention Town Hall presented by You Matter to Klamath. Klamath County's Multi-Agency Suicide Prevention Coalition hosted a Town Hall event featuring an inspiring keynote presentation by Arnold Thomas, MSW, Chaplain, and Survivor. Following the keynote, attendees learned about community suicide prevention efforts, watched prevention videos created by local youth, and attended the Question and Answer Panel with behavioral health providers, Tribal representatives, and other community experts. Shuína closed the event with spoken word poetry and one original piece created specifically for this community event!
Event information HERE!
(In Person) Shuína performed spoken word for Slamlandia, a poetry open mic and slam that "provides a creative, fun, and welcoming space for all literary communities in Portland... [striving] towards a safer space for poets to read their own poetry, witness others, and participate in community." This event is hosted by poet Julia Gaskill at Literary Arts in Portland Oregon.
(In Person) Shuína opened the "Red Shawl Dance" with a prayer to remember and honor loved ones who have transitioned from physical body into the Spirit world. The Red Shawl Dance, along with wearing the color red, also brings awareness to the Missing and Murdered Indigenous People (MMIP) epidemic and efforts to bring justice and healing.
Restoration Celebration Information HERE!
(Virtual) A reading series intended to prioritize the safety, creativity, and stories of Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Color
Find event info HERE!
(In Person) hosted by Klamath Tribal Health & Family Services Youth and Family Guidance Center and open to the community at the Ross Ragland Theater
(In Person) hosted by The Klamath Tribes Social Services Department and open to the community to honor the stories of those impacted directly and provide resources
This book of poetry is focused on Indigenous resiliency and purposed to provide encouragement to the Indigenous community.
(Virtual – Zoom) for the "Breaking Barriers: Tribal Child Welfare and ODHS Child Welfare Collaboration" workshop. Conference hosted by the National Indian Child Welfare Association and open to registered attendees throughout the United States
This book of poetry is aimed to give voice to the Indigenous experience through stories involving historical trauma and present-day hurts, along with examples of incredible resiliency and strength.
(Virtual – Microsoft Teams) hosted by ODHS District 11 and open to ODHS D11 employees, covering topics related to local tribal customs, traditions, and values for the purpose of developing greater cultural competencies that will result in more effective services provided to the tribal community
Titled "Klamath language ties directly to Klamath culture" by Joe Siess, Herald and News
Indian Child Welfare Act Case Manager & Liaison between the Klamath Tribes & State of Oregon Department of Human Services
2021
(In Person) hosted by The Klamath Tribes
(Virtual – Zoom) hosted by ODHS District 7 and open to ODHS D7 employees
(Virtual – Zoom) hosted by The Klamath Tribes Children & Family Services program and open to the Klamath and Lake Counties Citizens Review Board (CRB)
Presenter for the ODHS District 11 Child Welfare/The Klamath Tribes Social Services Retreat
(In Person) hosted by The Klamath Tribes Children & Family Services program
(Virtual – Webex) hosted by The Klamath Tribes Children & Family Services program and open to the upcoming ICWA Tribal Court staff and stakeholders: Klamath County Judges, Attorneys, ODHS Employees, CASA, CRB, and other Court Staff
(Virtual – Zoom) hosted by The Office of Tribal Affairs and open to ODHS Child Welfare and the Child Welfare Department at all nine Federally Recognized Oregon Tribes
(Virtual – Zoom) hosted by The Office of Tribal Affairs and open to ODHS District 6, 7, 8, 10, and 11 alongside the Coquille Indian Tribe, Confederated Tribes of the Coos, Lower Umpqua, and Siuslaw Indians (CTCLUSI), Cow Creek, Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs (CTWS) and The Klamath Tribes
(Virtual – Zoom) hosted by The Office of Tribal Affairs and open to ODHS Child Welfare and the Child Welfare Department at all nine Federally Recognized Oregon Tribes
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Contact Shuína Skó directly via email at ShuinaSkoLLC@ShuinaSko.com
