Ryann Moonin, whose Indigenous name and artist identity is Cawiguaq (meaning dragonfly in Sugt’stun) is from Paluwik (Port Graham), Alaska. She is a fourth-generation Sugpiaq artist who connects with her culture and heritage through her art while exploring identity and storytelling through writing.
Cawiguaq’s work reflects her love for where she comes from, her community, and her family, who continue to inspire her creative journey. Her work includes digital illustration, tattoo design, and fashion concepts inspired by Alaska Native identity and storytelling.
Through her work, she also raises awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) and the importance of cultural preservation.
In 2021, she received the Dreamer award from the Spirit of Youth program and was recognized as the Art Student Champion by the Alaska Arts Education Consortium for her MMIW digital illustration, recently renamed “Without a Face for All Faces Taken.”