Unique Collaboration Showcases Emerging Indigenous Artist’s Work
Grace Edwards has loved to create since she was a kid. The emerging artist first worked with Coast Salish form lines when she created several murals about Truth and Reconciliation as a student at Dover Bay Secondary School. With both Snaw-naw-as and Quw’utsun heritage, Grace says this marked the beginning of her journey in understanding her cultural identity. It also helped her to build lasting connections with school districts and organizations and opened the doors for her to work with youth and non-Indigenous people, where she shares the culture and knowledge that she has gathered over the years.
Grace was chosen to create a design for an orange shirt to be sold on September 30th at the globally recognized Uniqlo store in Vancouver for this year’s National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. Proceeds from the sales will be donated to Kw’umut Lelum Foundation, thanks to the collaborative work with our ongoing partners Save the Children Canada. Funds will be directed into our ‘Snuw’uy’ulh for Success’ campaign, which supports Indigenous youth holistically as they build skills, confidence, and strength in their cultural identity and wellness.
Grace says the collaboration helped bring new elements to her creative process and is honoured to have been chosen for this project. “I recognize the valuable work Kw’umut Lelum Foundation does for many communities, highlighting Indigenous youth and providing them with opportunities to build connections and gain experiences that will advance their careers.”
Grace graduated from Vancouver Island University in 2023 with a Bachelor of Arts Degree, with a major in visual arts and a minor in Indigenous studies, and is currently attending Emily Carr University of Arts and Design for her Master of Fine Arts degree. Grace’s message to other Indigenous children and youth?
“Find an outlet that helps you connect with your culture. For me, my passion for art serves as a way to explore my language, history, and identity. For others, it might look different—such as canoeing, gathering medicine, weaving, beading, or singing and dancing. There are many paths to reconnecting with ourselves and our heritage, and each one offers a unique opportunity to learn more about who we are and our communities.”
Our foundation exists to connect commitment with limitless potential. We are grateful to have collaborative opportunities such as this that showcase the strength and talent of Indigenous youth from the member Nations. We look forward to what the future brings for Grace and the ways in which we can support other emerging talented Indigenous youth in the coming years.
Artist’s description of the orange shirt design:
In the design, I incorporate eye motifs, star motifs, and hands to represent healing, change, and the future. The design shows the hands of both the younger and older generations, all of them having their hands out in “Huy ch q’a”, which means ‘Thank You’ in the Hul’q’umi’num language. At this moment, I am acknowledging that in the present time, it is not only the older generation that is creating change but also, the younger generation of people within society that are also doing amazing reconciliation actions and healing processes for themselves. Together, the work of the younger and older generations creates a new future that includes prosperity, togetherness, and gratitude. This design symbolizes the unity and shared journey of all generations in creating a better future.