Weshoyot Alvitre’s Brave: Reading and Book Signing

Join us for a special reading and talk with author-illustrator Weshoyot Alvitre, featuring her heartfelt picture book Brave. The story follows a Native American boy proudly growing out his hair and learning from his family that braids are powerful, beautiful, and deeply meaningful. Told through a tender father–son relationship, Brave explores the painful legacy of colonization—when Native children were forced to cut their hair and abandon their cultural practices—and affirms Indigenous pride and history. Each morning, a father gently brushes and braids his son’s hair. Despite teasing at school and the discomfort of hair tugging, the boy draws strength from family stories and traditions, ultimately finding that his long hair makes him feel brave. The event will begin with a talk by Alvitre on the historical context and creative process behind the book; it will be followed by a live reading of Brave and discussion in the courtyard. We will end with a reception and book signing.

Weshoyot Alvitre is a Tongva and Scottish comic book artist, writer, and illustrator. Born in the Santa Monica Mountains on the property of Satwiwa—a cultural center founded by her father, Art Alvitre—she was raised close to the land and grounded in traditional knowledge that continues to inform her work. For over 20 years, Alvitre has pursued the comics medium, using her art and writing to visualize historical material through an Indigenous lens. Her work often blends pop culture, science fiction, and archival research to spark conversations and reframe colonial narratives. Her illustrations have appeared in Moonshot volumes 2 and 3; Deer Woman: An Anthology; Imminent Cuisine zine; and Marvel’s Voices: Indigenous Voices. Brave (2025)—her most recent publication—marks her debut as an author/illustrator of children’s books. She is recognized for her award-winning work on At the Mountain’s Base (Kokila, 2019) and Living Ghosts & Mischievous Monsters (Scholastic, 2021). Current projects include Toypurina: Our Lady of Sorrows and Lone, which retell stories from her Tongva community using historical accounts and traditional knowledge to convey a fuller representation of Indigenous history. Alvitre prioritizes working with Native-owned publishers and educational institutions to support self-determined narratives of Native life, past and present.

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Host or Publisher Fowler Museum at UCLA