Timmins artist helps young people find their voice
A Timmins artist of Indigenous and Scottish heritage is looking to engage local youth in artwork and the sharing of traditional teachings.
Justice Sutherland has been holding an art workshop series at the local youth wellness hub. Sutherland said art can encourage youth to express themselves and affect change in their community.
Once a shy artist with little knowledge of her Indigenous heritage, Sutherland said her goal now is to share her passion and Mushkego-Cree culture with local youth.
She’s been doing that at the Timmins youth wellness hub for about three weeks.
“We’ve been doing a lot of painting, a lot of stamp-making,” Sutherland said.
“We’re doing a bunch of creative ideas and outlets to get one nice, big piece done. And we’re doing it on the Seven Grandfather Teachings and making sure that we’re stopping on each lesson and learning the teaching.”
Her favourite grandfather teaching, she said, is the beaver, which is wisdom, “because a lot of people want to be wise.”
Justice Sutherland has been holding an art workshop series at the Timmins youth wellness hub. Sutherland said art can encourage youth to express themselves and affect change in their community. (Photo from video)
“But it’s about the building. He’s about that resilience of going out every day and rebuilding your shelter every day, and going out and building those skills and then sharing those skills. He’s the builder of the community and that’s what it means to be wise, is to be able to share in skills and build up other people.”
Sutherland said they need to develop young people’s skills so they want to give back to their community.
Builds confidence
“And the more that we can give them skills, the more that will see Timmins flourish,” she said.
“All it is, is that initial step of confidence to get that artwork out there, and people want more art, we need more artists. Artwork is something that can bring that warmth into the home, to get that passion, that voice out.”
Sutherland said art allows people to share their views of the world.
“And it’s something that anyone can really do,” she said.
- Download our app to get local alerts on your device
- Get the latest local updates right to your inbox
“It’s about finding that passion in this city and really flourishing it and trying to build those skills up with as many youth as possible, so they can feel the confidence to share their artwork with the community.”
Sutherland wants to engage as many youth as possible and empower them to make their voices heard.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
LIVE UPDATES Critical infrastructure 'successfully protected': Jasper park officials
Jasper National Park officials in an update said all critical infrastructure in the townsite has been "successfully protected, including the hospital, emergency services building, both elementary and junior/senior schools, activity centre and wastewater treatment plant."
BREAKING Canadian Olympic Committee removes women soccer team's head coach following drone incident
The Canadian Olympic Committee has removed women's national soccer team head coach Bev Priestman, according to a press release from the organization.
Prince William's 2023 salary revealed in new report
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
'I was just shocked': Jasper lodge owner on seeing property destroyed by wildfire
On Wednesday night, the owner of Maligne Lodge in Jasper, Alta., was shocked to receive a photo of her business engulfed in flames.
Alberta premier says a third, perhaps half, of all Jasper buildings destroyed by fire
Alberta Premier Danielle Smith says early reports indicate a third and perhaps up to half of all buildings in the historic Rocky Mountain resort town of Jasper have burned in a wildfire.
OPINION Prince Harry: Press intrusion and the family rift explored in new doc
Prince Harry, the Duke of Sussex, has once again found himself at the centre of media attention following his recent interview as part of 'Tabloids on Trial,' an ITV documentary on phone hacking and tabloid intrusion.
Yukon woman narrowly escapes bear attack, credits hair clip
A woman in Yukon believes her hair clip helped save her during a bear attack.
Tourist suffers 3rd-degree burns to feet after losing flip flops amid soaring temperatures in Death Valley
A tourist was hospitalized after suffering third-degree burns on his feet on Saturday when he lost his flip flops at a national park in California where temperatures soared past 50 C.
Mary-Ellen Turpel-Lafond likely has Indigenous DNA: report
The Law Society of British Columbia says a DNA test shows a former judge and Order of Canada recipient accused of falsely claiming to be Cree "most likely" has Indigenous heritage.