“I grew up as a stranger to my own story, adopted and re-named, grafted into a new family tree. The discovery in adulthood of my Métis heritage was a revelation that set me on a path of discovery and my developing story as an Indigenous heritage woman and her quest for harmony with the natural world. I am a proud citizen of the Métis Nation of Ontario.
Since July 2021, I have created over 150 fibre art installations at residential school historical sites, museums, galleries and other public spaces. This project, #hopeandhealingcanada, aims to bridge the gap between settlers and First Nations, Métis and Inuit people by creating approachable and non-confrontational art and starting a conversation about decolonization and reconciliation. During my residency at Harbourfront Centre, I will be making a body of work addressing the opioid crisis in Canada with a focus on how we approach grief as well as the stigma surrounding mental health, of which addiction is a part. In February 2023, there were a recorded 216 opioid-related deaths in Ontario. My 23-year-old son Parker was one of those lost. I cannot solve the fundamental causes of the problem of opioid addiction. Still, I can help to make it a tangible and visceral visual reminder that no one is immune to this issue. While memorializing those we have lost, this project will also create a substantial representation of just how many.”