About the Artist and Artwork (original) (raw)

Kokum watches the RCMP take her children as her baby grows in her belly. I bead. Mishomis refuses to baptize another child in the Christian church. I bead. My father is hidden away in the woods and taught to respect the manitous. I bead. Younger children hide when the older students come home. I bead. Stories are told in hushed tones over tea and bannock. I bead. I give birth to one, two, three children. I love. Classmates hear me argue over the severity of residential schools. I bead. Elders speak of how they cried when the government apologizes. I bead. Comments are read of how we need to "get over it". I bead. Truth is told by 215 children whose lifeless bodies never had the chance to run away. I bead. More bodies are discovered. My heart is broken. I cry. I hug my children, my thread is unbroken, my needle whole. I bead.