Bada Jean - Visual Artist
Nêhiyaw | Denesuline | Welsh
Treaty 6 & 7, Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation & Tsuut'ina Nation

I take pride in who I am and the work I have made as an indigenous female creator.

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For me, what I create is spiritual. Anything that is created by the hands of someone, is a direct result of their subconscious. The body is a vessel that brings visions from the spirit world to the physical world. For me, that has always come out in bright, bold paintings. 

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Throughout high school and college, I struggled to find my style and felt very lost in what I wanted to represent. In some ways, this coincided with my identity. After looking inward, I realized that growing up indigenous has caused some issues with identity for me. I felt like I didn't fully belong to the "white community" but not to an indigenous community either, because I grew up for the most part without our indigenous traditions. Up until the last few years of high school, I didn't know much about my culture at all, but through my family I was able to start learning and reclaiming my identity as an indigenous woman. Growing up with the absence of tradition is a direct result of residential schools in Canada, and the orders to erase all indigenous culture. Intergenerational trauma affects my family, as well as every indigenous person out there. As a young person, it is so important that we learn and practice our culture and keep our traditions alive. 

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Ever since I can remember, I have always created. Crafts, painting, drawing, making sculptures with my food. Doodling over every single piece of schoolwork that I had. It is in my blood to create, there is no other option for me.

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As I become more connected with my traditions, ancestors and self, I find it comes through in my work. As I am on my journey of reclaiming my indigenous identity, I also become closer to the artist I want to be and produce the art I want to produce.

 

I feel a fire building inside of me and I want to share it. I don't know how else to put it, but painting is my passion and it will be a forever journey for me. 

 

Although painting is my main medium, I work in creative photography, film and sculpture. My goal is to create feeling in my viewer. To bring to life a story, or a feeling. I want to share how beautiful indigenous culture can be, in a contemporary, bold, and abstract way. My art journey is ever changing and will always be growing. 

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Hay Hay, 

Bada

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Learn about Truth and Reconciliation for Indigenous People in Canada below - 

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Here's a website that explains Residential Schools

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Here is the 94 Calls to Action - What you can do to help Truth and Reconciliation