Artist Statement for Etuaptmumk

Two eyed seeing in something I live in my journey everyday with IndigeSTEAM I chose the night sky to represent both the western and Indigenous views of astronomy. I am Cree Métis/Scottish, and my work is a celebration of storytelling—woven through the lens of photography, poetry, and the simple yet profound act of doodling. My artistic practice bridges tradition and interpretation, exploring how the stars, or *acahkos* (ᐊᒐᐦᑯᐢ), carry the wisdom of Cree star stories across generations. Every culture finds meaning in the constellations, tracing narratives across the night sky. Through my doodles, I bring these Cree stories to life, reimagining the figures that have long shaped Indigenous perspectives on the cosmos. The constellations above us are more than celestial bodies; they are keepers of history, connection, and imagination. My work invites viewers to engage with the stars not just as distant lights, but as guides—reminding us that, like the stories they hold, we are always in conversation with the universe.

Artist Biography

Sheila Norris, is a Cree Métis woman, who traces her paternal ancestry back to the Buffalo Lake Settlement in Alberta. She wears many creative hats: a poet, a photographer, and a writer. As an active member of the CIF Reconciliation Society and the executive director, her work and passion with art and reconciliation assists her journey as an Indigenous woman. Sheila is an emerging artist who is learning about herself, her culture through her creative outlooks.