Day 85 - Katherine
It’s the last day of my weeklong series exploring modern Indigenous art. My sketch today took longer than expected as I really wanted to honour the beadwork of multi-disciplinary Métis artist Katherine Boyer. Dedicated to the contemplation of her ancestral Métis culture, Katherine’s contemporary beading practice is rooted in the traditions of Indigenous art and explores themes of place, identity and feminism. Her labour-intensive beading process is motivated by the connection it evokes with her familial memories, and is a practice of care and connection that has been shared among generations of women in her family. I still couldn’t quite get the design right for my sketch, but really enjoyed my time studying Katherine’s work.
As part of my series this week I’m also going to be showcasing various Indigenous organizations and, since you’re here, I encourage you to learn more about them and consider donating should you have the means to do so. Today I want to highlight True North Aid, a Canadian charity dedicated to serving and supporting northern Indigenous communities in Canada through practical humanitarian support. Their mandate is to provide practical humanitarian assistance through initiatives established on eight foundational stones of support: self-determination, reconciliation, water, food, health, housing, hope and education. You can donate to True North Aid here.
