Leading up to National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 paNOW is featuring Indigenous professionals, storytellers, entertainers, artists and others.
Hearing many Indigenous stories growing up, Leah Dorion, a Metis artist and author living in Prince Albert, is in a position to share many stories to young minds, and hopefully inspire change as well.
“I have published a lot of children books through the Gabriel Dumont institute publishing. They’re geared to support Metis story telling for younger audiences,” Dorion told paNOW.
One of the things Dorion enjoys most about her role as an educator is inspiring imagination to younger minds.
“Using the Metis teachings and the culture, and world viewings in children’s books stimulates knowledge sharing,” Dorion said.
“My art is very playful, bright, and open-ended. A person can interpret it in many ways. I really enjoy using bright colours and repeating patterns as well.”
Artwork by Leah Dorion. (Submitted photo/Leah Dorion)Elders in her community have shared many stories with Leah in the past. She understands the importance of those stories continuing to be told while staying authentic.
“I love to share Metis knowledge, because I feel like I have been gifted with lots of that from the elders in the community over the course of my life,” Dorion said.
Reconciliation is important in her teachings. While she recognizes there is a long way to go still, the best way for her to share is through art and stories.
“I want to make sure we are at the beautiful circle of reconciliation,” Dorion said. “I think art and education is a way to get people to move through a lot of what has happened in the past and rebuild relationships, partner and work together.
“That’s the beauty of being in education and art, you can do it in a good, collaborative way.”
The saying it takes a community to raise a child is true for Leah’s upbringing. While complimenting her father as a large influence in her life she contributes where she is today to the many people around her.
“For me I have had so many wonderful teachers and people over the years who have influenced me,” Dorion said. “It comes out a lot in my work and in my life in general.
“If you learn something you have to gift it forward, and I was taught that. I just want to be one of those people that gifts things forward.”
Leah uses many forms to share her knowledge including singing, illustrations, storytelling, and speaking.
“I think people are very visual and symbolic,” Dorion explained. “I use a lot of symbolic representation in my artwork. I think that makes it attractive, and easy to understand.”
Artwork by Leah Dorion. (Submitted photo/Leah Dorion)Leah will be a part of three different outdoor art installations this summer.
“I hope people will think about how things connect to themselves, and will see how we are more similar than we’re different, it will all work out,” Dorion added.
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Dawson.thompson@pattisonmedia.com
On twitter: @dawsonthompson8
