Mecou,

henegou

D. DAYE

Shining my light,

but not afraid of the dark.

Dominique Daye Hunter (Black/Saponi/Nansemond Native American) is a storyteller, BIWOC advocate, and multi-disciplinary artist who specializes in poetry and street fashion. She is the CEO of

D. Daye Hunter Designs and Eloquent Expressions Writing Services.

Dominique’s work explores the complex connections between history, intergenerational trauma, and healing in Black and Indigenous communities. She uses storytelling to create a safe, healing space for women, children, and those who are differently abled.

Born and raised in New Jersey, she is a self-taught artist and completed a BS from Arizona State University in Nonprofit Leadership Management with an emphasis on American Indian Studies.

The author of “Seeds: a Booklet of Poetry,” Hunter has performed alongside noteworthy poets such as Simon Ortiz, Tenielle Campbell, and Laura Tohe. Hunter most recently became a member of the Arizona Artist Investment Program, an invitation-only, pilot cohort program. She is also a member of Unlock Creative's Black Creative Flowers cohort and the National Association of Women Business Owners.

Dominique’s work is available in the Heard Museum (Phoenix, AZ) and Native Art Market Gallery, the first Native American owned shoppe in Oldtown Scottsdale, AZ.

In addition to her storytelling, Dominique is also a freelance writer, copywriting consultant for TINHORN LLC., and an art and community events organizer. Noteworthy events she has organized and performed at include Inherit the Earth: Art, Activism, and the Land (2014), LuLu: Celebrating the Voices of Black and Indigenous Women of Color (2018) and Elevate Your Mind: Celebrating Minority Graduates (2018).

Dominique performed spoken word poetry, hip-hop, and played a lead role in the play “Native Nation” written by Larissa Fasthorse and directed by Michael Garces of Cornerstone Theatre Company (Los Angeles) and hosted by Arizona State University Gammage. D. Daye Hunter Designs was also represented in the costume design and was one of the select vendors at the showings.

Dominique lives and works between Phoenix, Arizona and her Indigenous ancestral lands of present-day North Carolina and Virginia.

Photography: Hannah Manuelito