About the Artist

Rebecca Jewel Estrin, whose Haida name is Híilang Jáat —meaning “Thunder Woman”—was born and raised in Ketchikan, Alaska. She is the daughter of Carrie Lynn Dodson (Haida/Łingít/Lakota) and Randy (Billy) Estrin (Tsimshian/Łingít/Blackfeet). She is Kaigani Haida from the Yahkw Janáas clan (Raven moiety, Double-fin Killer Whale, Double-headed Raven crests) of the Brown Bear House & Dogfish Shark House. She is also a grandchild of the L’eeneidi & Kiks.ádi (Łingít) and has Tsimshian, Blackfeet, and Lakota heritage.

Híilang Jáat’s art is deeply rooted in her multi-tribal background, drawing inspiration from both her environment and her ancestors. She works in various mediums, including painting, metal work, and beadwork, using her craft to honor and preserve Indigenous culture. Her early work has been featured in numerous galleries across Alaska, and she has competed in several art competitions—earning first place statewide in Alaska in one. In recent years, she has participated in Indigenous artists’ markets across the country, sharing her work with a broader audience.

Her creative process is driven by a powerful mission: keeping her culture thriving and ensuring that people recognize, “We’re Still Here.” This passion is further reinforced by her education. In 2023, she earned a bachelor’s degree in Indigenous American Indian Studies from Haskell Indian Nations University, focusing on Federal Indian Law/Policy & Tribal Sovereignty. Through her studies, she became acutely aware of how Haida, Łingít, and Tsimshian peoples of Southeast Alaska are often left out of broader Native American conversations. Her goal is to change that narrative—keeping her culture at the forefront through her art.