The Solstice Flute Camp Logo
The mountains depicted in the logo represent the San Francisco Peaks, known in the Apache language as Dził Si'an N'chaa. These mountains are sacred to the Apache Tribes of Arizona and hold profound spiritual meaning. They represent the West direction within Four Sacred Directions. In traditional teachings, the West is associated with adulthood, a stage of life marked by responsibility, wisdom, and reflection.
At the center of the design is the hummingbird, or Dahtiyé in Apache. In creation teachings, the hummingbird holds a sacred role, representing hope, trust, and divine affirmation.
The hummingbird is shown flying with a flute at its center, symbolizing the sacredness of music. While Native American flutes vary widely across Turtle Island, the flute in Apache culture holds particular significance. Traditionally, it has been used by men as a means of courtship, carrying prayers, intention, and emotion through sound. The placement of the flute honors music as a living, spiritual expression that connects the human heart to the Creator.
The circle of light in the logo represents both the sun and the moon, honoring the sacred cycles of time. As the sun, it reflects the Summer Solstice, the namesake of Solstice Flute Camp, when the sun shines the longest day of the year. This time marks the Apache New Year and the beginning of ceremonies that guide young men and young women into adulthood. As the moon, it honors the Winter Solstice, the shortest day of the year, when the moon shines the longest, reminding us of balance, reflection, and renewal. Together, the sun and moon symbolize transition, ceremony, and the ongoing cycle of becoming.
Together, the mountains, the hummingbird, the sun, the moon, and the flute form a story of emergence, hope, beauty, and sound. This logo is not just an image, it is a prayer and a song carried forward for future generations.
(written by, Chiffon Lark)
Our Logo's Artist
Chiffon Lark is the amazing talent who created the Solstice Flute Camp logo. She is a full-time artist and wildlife illustrator based in San Diego, California. Her father is a member of the White Mountain Apache Tribe, and her mother is of Mescalero Apache and Coahuiltecan descent. Chiffon is an Indigenous advocate for environmental sovereignty for all Native people and wildlife, weaving cultural knowledge and ecological awareness into her creative work.
Her illustrations serve as both art and storytelling. Celebrating the inter-connectedness of land, people, and non-human relatives. She has collaborated with Native-led and non-Indigenous organizations across the United States, Canada, and South America dedicated to cultural conservation and climate preservation.