work

  • Idle No More
    2013

    Adapted for the Idle No More movement to raise awareness around CITIZEN rights.

  • Our home on NATIVE land
    2012

    I originally created this design to express how I see this country we call 'Canada'. Canada is often referred to as a 'mosaic or tapestry of multiculturalism', and for me as a textile artist I thought it would be fitting to take the idea of a tapestry and the flag of Canada, and apply my own cultural and artistic practices to it.

    I transformed the iconic Maple Leaf into a Raven; I chose Raven because he is known in many of our legends as a Transformer, a Messenger and a Trickster. I...

  • 'Nam'glatla - Standing As One
    2012

    'Nam'glatla is a Kwakwala word that means 'standing as one' or 'working together as one'.

    I created this work specifically for this year's Aboriginal Students Art Exhibit, March 16, 2012 to March 24, 2012.

    The inspiration for this piece came from the title of the exhibit "I Like Your Status".

    The exhibit name made me think about this term 'status' and how much I've never much liked being labeled this way. 

    I am Kwagiulth. All other terms (status, non-status,...

  • Identity Crap-Shoot
    2012

    Identity Crap Shoot is a commentary on the legal definition of Indians in Canada. The labels “status, non-status, Metis, Inuit, C-31 or C-3” flow from the Indian Act – an Act designed to destroy and then fully eliminate the Indigenous peoples of this land so early colonizers could usurp the land. 

    Federal politicians and bureaucrats “toss the dice” and hundreds of thousands of Indigenous people are denied their identity and access to basic human needs and rights. ...

  • Ravens Tail Style Medicine Pouch
    2012

    I created this as part of a weekend-workshop hosted by the Aboriginal Program office.  Cheryl Samuel provided an introduction to Raven's Tail weaving, which is a traditional weaving technology from the Tlingit, Tsimshian, and Haida peoples. Through marriage, the right to learn this technology and method (as well as the family crest designs that go with it) came to be with the Kwagiulth people.

    I wanted to learn this style of weaving so I can one day weave regalia for my brother,...

  • TRANSFORMATION
    2011

    This was created in my Creative Process class.
    It is a self portrait/transformation piece.
    Here, I am transforming first from myself into a totem-pole figure, and back again. The inspiration for the totem figure comes from my family's totem-pole carving traditions from the Kwickwasutaineuk, 'Namgis and Kwagiulth branches on my father's side of the family.

  • Thunderbird Button Blanket
    2011

    Thunderbird Button Blanket was created for my brother, Pel’nak̓wela, Travis Neel, for the potlatch where he received this prestigious name. 

    The name was placed on him by our uncle, ‘Nulis, Chief Edwin Newman of the Heiltsuk and Walas Kwagiulth. 

    The blanket carries the crest of the Thunderbird, which is just one of many crests our family is entitled to use as part of our lineage.