Many Moons Ago, Our Story.

  Hau, Samai masma, let me properly introduce myself. My name is Lucky Salway and I am a Tohono O'odham and Oglala Lakota artist from Cukson, O'odham Jewed.(Tucson, AZ.) My Mothers name is Mary Narcho and she is from Chukut Kuk District on the Tohono O'odham Nation. My fathers name was Stacey "Lucky" Salway and he was an Oglala Lakota from Pine Ridge South Dakota. My father passed away in March of 2014. I have 2 kids my Daughter Sonya and my Son Allen. I have 2 older brothers Duwayne and Marvin and 3 Sisters named Wanda, Stacey and Crystal.

In 2011, I was invited to join a youth collective aimed at helping at-risk youth by giving them a safe space to spend time after school. The collective, called Skrappy's, became a sanctuary for many kids in Tucson, offering them refuge, love, and opportunities for growth. My role was to teach and assist with screen printing. I worked in a spacious building divided into two sections: one half housed a makeshift dance studio, primarily used for breakdancing and capoeira, and the other half contained a music studio below us.

Sharing the studio with the b-boys and b-girls, I formed strong friendships with many of them. We exchanged ideas and collaborated on art projects, creating a vibrant and inspiring atmosphere. During this time, many of the youth were actively fighting against the school system's decision to remove an Indigenous studies class. There's an incredible documentary about this movement called Precious Knowledge, which highlights their efforts. I was deeply impressed by these young adults, who were fiercely proud of their culture and history.

Growing up, I often encountered Mexican peers who distanced themselves from their Native heritage, saying things like, “I’m not Indian, I’m Mexican.” Seeing these kids embrace their Native bloodlines with pride was both moving and inspiring. It made me even prouder to call them my friends. Out of their activism and collaboration emerged several impactful organizations and initiatives, one of which was Flowers and Bullets—a group I deeply respect and encourage everyone to support.

The b-boy crew I aligned with was called F2D, short for Fresh 2son Descendants—a name I thought was incredibly creative and meaningful. Nate, also known as DJ Killa Who and Bboy Killa Robot, was the founder of this movement. I was fortunate to become part of it through our shared space and constant creative synergy. Inspired by the name Descendants, I began exploring an idea that focused on Indigenous ways, humor and values. This led me to imagine a name: True Descendants, with “Est. B.C.” as its defining phrase.