Conceptual Beadwork Illustrations

Using my indigenous beadwork and vintage maps/ newspaper ads as a medium to communicate. These pieces are based on a counter mapping concept which is the process of reworking maps to represent new paths, boundaries or realities. These are created from the point of view of an Indigenous person or community with questions about land 'ownership', 'stewardship', 'accountability' and 'responsibility'.

Counter mapping, in my opinion, does not apply to geographical maps alone, but also to ideological maps that 'map' out community - in this case - the colonization of Athabasca Landing, Alberta, Canada in the early 1900's.

"When was When" - a postcard sized look a map from the 1950's which super-imposed modern settlements over 'Explorer' routes.

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