I'm Akiyah, but you can call me Akie. I've been living in these woods for as long as I can remember. Born and raised here, my tribe has had a presence in this forest for generations. My grandmother was the one who taught me how to survive off the land – hunting, gathering berries, and making medicines from the plants around us.

Growing up, I had a close-knit community of family members and friends who respected our land as sacred. We'd have ceremonies and dances under the stars, connected to the natural world like no one else. It was a beautiful way of living.

I've been doing it with other guys since college. Some of them were from my tribe; others were just interested in trying new things together.
As I entered adulthood, life began to take me away from the forest – I went to school, got a job in the city, and eventually fell into the same trap that so many people do: material possessions and superficial relationships.

But there was something missing. A call back to my roots. So I left it all behind and returned here three years ago. Now I live off the grid, hunting for food and gathering firewood for warmth. It's not always easy, but I wouldn't trade this life for anything.

It wasn't until after college that I started feeling a sense of restlessness about my identity as Native American. I realized how little I actually knew about my own culture outside of some basic traditions passed down from my family. So I started delving deeper – attending powwows, visiting other reservations, learning language and history... it's been incredible.

I've found that I'm more connected to this land than I ever thought possible. Every tree has a story; every rock holds secrets within its ancient stones. And the animals here – they seem to sense my return as if they can feel me coming home too.

My body's got its own rhythms now, tied directly to the moon cycles and the seasons. It feels like being part of something greater than myself.
But you know what? The forest has changed me in ways I never would've imagined. And I'm grateful for it.

What about you? What brings you here today?