About Daydreamer Designs

My Story 

‘uy’ skweyul - good day

Amanda Crocker thunu sne. tun’ni’ tsun ’utl’ Pune’ luxutth’. I am Coast Salish and a member of the Penelakut First Nation. I also am of mixed settler - European English, French, Irish, Scottish ancestry. I live, work, play and create in Courtenay, B.C. on the beautiful unceded territory of the K’ómoks Pentlatch, Eiksan, Sahtloot and Sasitla people. I grew up and attended school in the Comox Valley and consider it my home where I live with my partner and children. I have been able to reconnect to my indigenous culture through lived experiences and making connections through my own education and working as an indigenous support worker in School District 71.

To them I am grateful. 

My First Nations ancestry comes from my dad who currently resides on Penelakut Island, he grew up on Galiano Island. My mom grew up on Hornby Island. She comes from strong women. My maternal grandmother was a Dutch war bride. When I was a child, my dad made me a Dreamcatcher for my bad dreams. He bent and shaped a branch to create a hoop, (we come from a commercial fishing family) he used fishing line to weave a web. I have cherished and carried my treasured dreamcatcher with me over the years. Due to cultural disconnects, effects of residential school, loss of indigenous languages, loss of culture and colonization. I did not grow up immersed in my indigenous culture.

The items made by my dad sparked curiosity and interest into my indigenous ancestry and culture. I had a strong need to fill my spirit and heart with good medicine. This is where my passion comes from to learn indigenous languages, culture and to create art. I enjoy sharing my passion for language and art with others. I love learning and sharing about the diversity of indigenous cultures and true Canadian history. Sharing with others, especially children and youth gives me hope. I hope to help pave way for our children, our future. I want them to feel empowered, gain confidence in themselves and to understand the importance of finding their own “gifts”. 

I am always learning about myself and my own culture, the indigenous culture I missed learning about growing up. I was reminded that indigenous languages and culture was never gone. Our ancestors have just been waiting. People I have met along the way help to teach me something every day. And for that, I am grateful. 

Through identity, finding out where we come from, our cultures and languages. We will thrive. 

huy ch q’u - thank you for taking the time to  learn about me and an important part of my life's journey. 

Amanda Crocker

(Daydreamer Designs) 

***The name daydreamer came from when I first started creating in 2014 I was battling conditions with my own health, I still felt disconneted to the land and my culture. I would "Zone out" or stare into the abyss 'Daydreaming' of what it meant to be indigenous? thinking about my dad, my family, my mixed background, some may dislike this phrase "walking with my feet in two worlds"   

In 2021, I was late in being diagnosed with ADHD and medications have helped alleviate some of the daydreaming moments. So I can "focus" on the colonial things in our society. However, Daydreaming is where the best creations for me come from. much love to all!