Connected by Care is a series of symbolic portraits created in collaboration with Indigenous visionaries whose lives and work embody community care. This 2024-2026 project honours Indigenous kin whose wisdom, courage, and leadership uplifts others and strengthens communities. At its heart, Connected by Care seeks to weave together a network of Indigenous voices across nations—each offering distinct approaches to care rooted in Indigenous ways of seeing and being. 

These portraits are not traditional likenesses. Instead, they are co-conceived with each honoured kin who selects five meaningful symbols that speak to their identity, values, and lived experiences. The symbols may reflect personal stories, cultural teachings, ancestral connections, or ties to land and kinship—not necessarily their public facing work.

 

Each portrait becomes a layered expression of spirit and story, incorporating printing, painting, beadwork, and stitching onto canvas. Through this collaborative process, I aim to reflect deeper narratives—not only how Indigenous leaders care for community, but how they carry themselves in relation to all beings.

Portraits will be gifted to the honoured kin, in recognition of their contributions and as a gesture of collective gratitude from the wider community.

Upon completion of this project, the portraits will be exhibited as a collection in May of 2026 at the Helen and Morris Belkin Gallery in Vancouver, BC with a further goal to have the exhibition travel to communities. An exhibition book with biographies and community contributions will accompany the exhibition.

Connected by Care is a Visual Art MFA project currently being undertaken at the University of British Columbia. The research for this project was made possible by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada/Ce projet a été rendition possible grâce au soutien du Conseil de recherches en sciences humanness du Canada.