Indigenous graphic design, business coaching and consultant services. TAANISII KIYAWOW! KAIJA HEITLAND DINISHIIKASHOON. AEN MICHIF NIYA, VANCOUVER ISLAND DOOSHCHIIN. My name is Kaija Heitland and I am a Métis woman living on Vancouver Island, on the traditional lands of the Cowichan tribes. I belong to the Cowichan Valley Métis Community, and am originally from Northern Ontario. In all my work, I focus on the need to reconnect to our traditional arts as a method for self-reclamation and strengthening our community bonds. These investigations into ourselves are essential to the preservation and evolution of Metis art and I focus on many different avenues including fabric, ceremonial items, moccasins, jewellery and regalia. I explore animal symbolism, plant medicine, and traditional food plants in my work, as these designs are an important part of our rich Métis culture of storytelling, and the story of our place in the culture of Indigenous British Columbia. I began my company, Indigenous Nouveau, as a platform to help to facilitate a greater visibility for my community and the Métis who reside in British Columbia, to showcase our unique beadwork and quillwork patterns, arts culture and history. We are experiencing a renaissance in both our appreciation and our approach to our traditional arts and I find that truly exciting. We, as a culture, are waking up and feeling our strength and vitality and it is wonderful to see that expressed in the art and music being created presently. Currently, my main focus has been teaching traditional land-based arts, giving instruction on beadwork, quillwork and the teachings of the Ribbon Skirt and how to incorporate these teachings into our daily paths. Ki’nanaskou mitinowow! Maarsii,
Kaija
For updates on my current projects, classes and beadwork kits, please follow my work on my Instagram: www.instagram.com/indigenousnouveau
Facebook: www.facebook.com/IndigenousNouveau. To see my jewellery, please visit my www.instagram.com/bythethorne.
