Message from the Artist

This journey was sparked through the combined love of family, learning, and creating. I completed my first beaded piece in 2017 and felt an instant connection to the beads and my Cree-Métis heritage. My learning continues, and I am grateful to many family members, Elders, mentors, and friends.

It is important that I create in a good way and from a place of gratitude. I want each piece to carry my good thoughts and prayers to whomever ends up wearing them.

âyihay

All my relations

Jocelyn

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WILLOW for home

R0SE for Grandma

—

I live in Treaty 6 Territory, District 8 of the Métis Nation of Alberta, of which I am a citizen. My Métis heritage comes from my father’s side with family names including Lamothe, Jobin, Dumas, Caron, and Mandeville.

My father spent much time uncovering family history, including travelling to Ottawa in the 1990s to look through various Archives. He traced Métis scrip to both his grandfather, who fought in the Battle of Batoche alongside his brothers, as well as his great-grandmother. The scrip includes the location St Charles parish, Manitoba, and dated August 18, 1875.

My grandmother’s experience attending IRS in Grouard, Alberta was not spoken about until recently. The ROSE was a favorite of hers, and pink was one of the ribbon colors chosen for her by a late, dear uncle. I honour her through this flower and colour.

Pussy willows were always one of the first signs of spring that my family watched for on the acreage that my parents built, and this tradition continues. Sprigs of WILLOW were shared with all those that came to celebrate my dad when he passed several years ago. On my mother’s side I have European and Settler heritage with ties to Iowa, Scotland, and Sweden, along with a common love for family, music, creating, and living with the land.

Many have been instrumental in sharing family history, including one Auntie who has fond memories about my great-grandmother, iskwew, who was the beader in the family. Finding my way back to this art form has been a great blessing.

#LamotheLove