'It's empowering': Sask. Dene woman hopes to inspire with new art exhibit

Growing up inrural Saskatchewan made it difficult for Catherine Blackburn to identify with her Indigenous roots, she says, untilher artwork sparked theconnection she pined for.

The Dene artist's exhibit Tell Me the Truth is on display at the Dunlop Art Gallery in Regina's Sherwood Library branch starting Saturday.

"Like much of my work, this work addresses themes of identity, of memory, of culture and attempts to address truths through a personal narrative, and perspective as an Aboriginal woman," said Blackburn, a bead artist, painter and jeweler.

Theartwork is inspired by her Dene and European ancestry.

Several of Blackburn's family members went through the residential school system.Her personal experiences and relationshipsspurred a passion toportrayCanada's colonial past through art.

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Rural roots

Growing up inrural Saskatchewan was a challengefor Blackburn.

"My work started at a point of disconnect, and it was through beadwork that Ifound a reconnection to my culture," she said.

"To me, it was a little bit scary because I dove into something that Imyself was not sure of, that Iwas displaced in, Iguess you could say."

As an adult,she now uses her childhood memories to fuel her creativity.

"It becomes a documentation of my own feelings of loss, of resilience," she said. "It's empowering."

Blackburn, fromLeask 80 kilometressouthwest of Prince Albert now uses beadwork, quilling and painting techniques in hopes of inspiring her audience toperceivethe history and impact of colonialismin new ways.

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An art mosaic

Although the exhibit contains a variety of her work,one of Blackburn's favouritepieces was created with a photo transfer technique, and features pictures of her family member's tongues.

"It's speaking to language, it's speaking to reclamation," she said. "Sovereignty over the body, and that's all in reference to the residential school system."

The exhibit is free of charge and runs until Jan. 3.