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Meet the artists

Learn more about the artists and the artwork they created for the Voices of Indigenous youth leaders on reconciliation series

Minodahmun (A Clear Path)

By Damien Bouchard

This photo was taken during the early stages of developing a partnership between my First Nation—Aroland First Nation—and two others: Ginoogaming First Nation and Animbiigoo Zaagi'igan Anishinaabek. I represented our Nations in a significant collaboration and was given the responsibility of supporting our communities in fulfilling the duty to consult and helping maximize training and employment opportunities for our members. It was a period of transition in the fall of 2020, just before the project began. Since then, we've helped train over 350 Anishinaabe people, with more than 150 securing employment.

In the photo, is my son Zephyr Bouchard's feather gifted to him by an Elder from one of our communities. I carry that feather with us on our journeys as a reminder. Zephyr has been living with a brain hernia for nearly a decade—a difficult path, but his resilience reminds me of our people and all we've endured throughout Canada's brief history in the scope of the cosmological clock.

Note: Original photo modified by design team to incorporate circle motif from Deloitte’s brand codes.

  • Year: 2020
  • Media: Digital photography
  • Size: 18” x 20”
Damien Bouchard

Damien Bouchard is an Anishinaabe father, photographer, videographer, and content creator based in Thunder Bay, Ontario. He’s originally from Aroland First Nation, part of Treaty No. 9 Territory. Damien owns his own private business, Crow Creations, in addition to working full time for the communities of Greenstone district with Minodahmun Development. Damien’s work focuses on natural landscapes, drawing inspiration from his surroundings and people celebrating their culture. He loves to capture moments that are both unique and inspiring.

Growth

By Atheana Picha

This piece is of an eagle growing out of a seed, showing growth from the earth up to the sky, with the salmon in the wing connecting the design to our importance of water. The wild roses represent the beauty that comes with growing and the movement of time. The two snakes in this design are separated, because there is a Coast Salish history of a two-headed serpent that is slayed. The serpents separated like this is to represent the overcoming of hardships and negativity. The design is framed by a ring of braided sweetgrass, to show strength and mind, body and spirit working together. The medicine in this piece is to remind the viewer to look after themselves with care to mind, body, and spirit. The north star in the centre of the piece serves as another reminder to move forward in a good way, together.

  • Year: 2023
  • Media: Coloured pencil on paper
  • Size: 18” x 24”
Atheana Picha

Atheana Picha, Nash’mene’ta’naht, is a Coast Salish artist from the Kwantlen First Nation, and her grandmother was from Tsartlip. She is an interdisciplinary artist, working mostly in two-dimensional media such as printmaking and drawing. Atheana has been doing two apprenticeships, learning Salish wool weaving with Musqueam weaver Debra Sparrow since 2019, and silver engraving, wood carving, and tool making with Squamish artist and educator Aaron Nelson-Moody since 2018. Atheana’s practice is grounded in learning more about Salish design through studying old pieces, observing nature, and learning from her Elders and teachers.

Teachings

By Shianne Gould

This cover art depicts the Seven Grandfather Teachings; it’s the energy that lives in all of us once we open our minds to it. The eagle represents the teaching of love, the bear is courage, the human/sab is honesty, the wolf is humility, the turtle is truth, the buffalo is respect, and the beaver is wisdom. If we live by these teachings each day, we'll get through each day successfully and respectfully with mother earth by our side. Burning sage releases the air of negativity and within, bringing the power of the ancestors' trust.

  • Year: 2023
  • Media: Acrylic on canvas
  • Size: 14” x 14”
Shianne Gould

A Mi’kmaq artist from Whycocomagh, Cape Breton Island, Shianne began painting at the age of 10 as a creative outlet and coping mechanism in response to the abuse she was enduring. Working in this healthy way to process and express emotions, she found a more balanced and content state of mind. As a successful artist, writer, teacher, and entrepreneur today, Shianne is passionate about mental health and continues to use her art to express her ideas, emotions, and perspectives. "I’ll always spread the love for art and how it can help therapeutically—it got me through my darkest days."

The Children of the Land

By Natashia Allakariallak

“The Children of the Land” is an art piece made of acrylic paint, pen, and seal skin. In the centre of the circle, children emerge from the land as strong arctic plants. These children are a representation of generational wealth within our Indigenous communities, and express the intention of a continuum of strength, growth, and beauty in which Indigenous youth carry. Above the faces of the children are stars. This expression was used in the painting to show our universal connection, to one another, and to the sky. The boarder of this circle is made of white de-haired and naturally bleached sealskin in the shape of circles. These represent moon cycles in which many Indigenous communities observe and tell stories about. It also represents the pull of the ocean which allows for Indigenous communities to utilize and access particular foods from the waterbed. The accent white lines around the canvas express life from our waters. Overall, the intention of the artwork expresses the interconnection between our well-being and nuna “the land”.

  • Year: 2024
  • Media: Acrylic paint, pen, and seal skin on canvas
  • Size: 22” x 18”
Natashia Allakariallak

From Iqaluit, Nunavut, Natashia Allakariallak is a multidisciplinary artist exploring themes of Inuit traditions and womanhood through printmaking, jewellery, and performance. Allakariallak’s work mirrors geometric forms and monochromatic colour schemes. The use of materials sourced from the land and waters of the arctic are often statement pieces in her work. From Baleen, narwhal tusk, polar bear fur, to fish leather and seal skin all sourced from local hunters and fishers, these materials encourage Natashia to describe the true beauty of where she comes from in her work.

Otipemisiwak (The people who own themselves)

By Dani LaValley

The subject for this piece is Indigenous sovereignty. It is important that we, as Indigenous Peoples, keep traditional values as the foundation for our sovereign nations. Especially in my community, as the Métis Nation of Saskatchewan is in the process of signing Kishchi Mashinaayikun Ooshchi Michif (The Sacred Document from the Michif), also known as a modern-day treaty with the Canadian Government. These traditional values, such as the importance of family and community, are represented in my beadwork by a root system. With these roots and values, our nations will grow to flower and seed. This ensures the next generation has opportunities to grow too. The dandelion, called both a weed and a medicine, represents the dichotomy of how Indigenous Peoples have been and are currently treated in our society. The blue faces represent water as a source of life, and how we have a responsibility to maintain and support traditional values in our modern lives. Altogether, this beaded piece reflects my identity as Nêhiyaw and Michif, as well as the importance of community and core values when determining how to own ourselves.

  • Year: 2024
  • Media: Beadwork
  • Size: 5” x 5"
Dani LaValley

Dani LaValley is a two-spirit Michif/Cree/settler artist and educator from Treaty 6 Territory. LaValley’s family comes from Crooked Lake, Cowessess First Nation, Prince Albert, and Regina. They have been a self-taught beadwork artist since 2016 and have used the artist name Deadly.Beads since 2021 to share their beading journey online. LaValley’s art is influenced by their cultures and relationship with the land. They share their beading skills and knowledge with youth and adults in their community through beading classes, clubs, and circles. LaValley attends local markets and events to trade and sell their creations. Dani currently lives, teaches, and creates on Treaty 4 Territory in oskana kâ-asastêki.

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5 minute read