High school student uses art to express her Indigenous identity
A 17-year-old high school student from Edmonton is creating vibrant artwork to express her Indigenous identity – incorporating animals specific to Indigenous culture such as eagles, bears and wolves.
Jewel Auger, a Grade 12 student at Louis St. Laurent Catholic High School, began using art as a way to express her Indigenous identity. Combining drawing tips from online sources and using her own creative mind, Auger began drawing to “represent an underrepresented group.”
The young artist, who describes herself as shy, said she felt cautious at first to open up about her identity since she was one of few Indigenous students in her school.
“There are barely any Aboriginal kids in my school – like, very little,” she said.
The artwork was originally created for her close family members, but she soon received plenty of support and excitement from teachers and classmates.
“It felt really nice to know students and other teachers saw it. It lets me know I’m doing something right,” she said.
Auger told CTV News Edmonton that her mother taught her about residential schools and the intergenerational trauma involved. Auger’s mother and grandmother attended residential schools, which she says affected their entire lives.
After the remains of 215 children were found on the grounds of the residential school in Kamloops, B.C.,Auger said it created a conversation amongst younger students.
“I think it’s good that it is in the news and even on social media. Almost every day I go on Instagram and I see people in my school posting little posts about what happened in B.C.,” said Auger. “It’s fairly shocking because we don’t really get recognition – especially teenagers. They don’t really post about that stuff.”
Shannon Loutitt, a grad coach, says art for Indigenous people plays a very important role in representing culture, spirituality and language.
“People like Jewel highlight that people like us also carry intergenerational strength given to us by our ancestors,” said Loutitt.
Michelle Zapisocky, an art teacher, said she had the privilege of watching Auger grow from a quiet junior high student to a young woman.
“It’s fantastic to have other students and teachers see this side of Jewel because she is a quieter student. I feel her voice has become louder and louder through her artwork,” said Zapisocky.
Zapisocky said she was patiently awaiting Auger’s decision to express her Indigenous identity through artwork.
“It made me really proud when all of a sudden she came to school and had this really beautiful eagle piece and her explanation of how the eagle travels through darkness and trials and tribulations. He moves into becoming this beautiful multi-coloured being in the end,” she said.
Loutitt says Auger acts as a positive role model for other Indigenous youth. Describing the younger generation as “carrying the torch” for revitalized ways of knowing and being.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Video shows suspect setting Toronto-area barbershop on fire
Video of a suspect lighting a Richmond Hill barbershop on fire earlier this week has been released by police.
'I have the will to live': N.B. woman needs double lung transplant
A New Brunswick woman suffering from sarcoidosis, a disease that limits your lung capacity, is in need of a double lung transplant.
The kids from 'Mrs. Doubtfire are all SUPER grown up now, and we're not OK
The adorable trio of child actors from the 1993 classic comedy 'Mrs. Doubtfire,' which starred the late and great Robin Williams, are all grown up and looking back on their seminal time together.
Police officer hit by driver of fleeing vehicle in Toronto
York Regional Police say they are continuing to search for a suspect in an auto theft investigation who was captured on video running over a police officer in Toronto last month.
TD worst-case scenario more likely after drug money laundering allegations: analyst
TD Bank Group could be hit with more severe penalties than previously expected, says a banking analyst after a report that the investigation it faces in the U.S. is tied to laundering illicit fentanyl profits.
A Chinese driver is praised for helping reduce casualties in a highway collapse that killed 48
A Chinese truck driver was praised in local media Saturday for parking his vehicle across a highway and preventing more cars from tumbling down a slope after a section of the road in the country's mountainous south collapsed and killed at least 48 people.
Britney Spears 'home and safe' after paramedics responded to an incident at the Chateau Marmont, source tells CNN
A source close to singer Britney Spears tells CNN that the pop star is 'home and safe' after she had a 'major fight' with her boyfriend on Wednesday night at the Chateau Marmont in West Hollywood.
Suter scores late goal, clinches series for Canucks
Pius Suter scored with 1:39 left and the Vancouver Canucks advanced to the second round of the NHL playoffs with a 1-0 victory over the Nashville Predators on Friday night in Game 6.
Premier Legault reiterates that McGill pro-Palestinian camp must be dismantled
Quebec Premier François Legault reiterated that the pro-Palestinian encampment at McGill University must be dismantled while police remain 'on the lookout for new developments.'