There was a time when many First Nations people were made to sign documents with a simple “X” beside their name. In my view, John Hancock cannot be compared to the millions of “X’s” placed on papers by great Indigenous leaders before him. With agreements made with Britain, France, Spain, and others, in whatever language was required for ratification. Those marks carry a weight far deeper than ink. Each “X” is part of the true foundation of what became the United States.
Once I learned this part of history, I began to reimagine the “X” as a symbol of presence, not absence. My signature has always included an “X” as a way to pay homage, and it turns out I am not the only Indigenous person who does this. Because it is another way to remember history and uphold the identity of what it means to be sovereign.
This collection was created from that understanding.
Carry my mark or create your own to honor the story.