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
India's foreign minister reacts to murder charges, claims Canada welcomes criminals
India's Foreign Affairs Minister accused Canada of welcoming criminals from his country in response to the RCMP's recent arrests in a homicide that has roiled tensions between the two countries.
15-year-old boy stabbed in Ottawa on Thursday dies
A 15-year old boy who was critically injured after a stabbing in Nepean on Thursday has died of his injuries, Ottawa's English public school board said Sunday.
Dash cam catches moment suspected drunk driver hits parked car, sends it careening into North Shore flower shop
Police say it’s fortunate no one was injured or killed in a collision at North Vancouver’s Park and Tilford shopping centre Saturday evening that sent one vehicle careening into a flower shop and another into a set of concrete barriers outside a Winners store.
'A tiny city:' Pro-Palestinian campus protesters organize for another week
Pro-Palestinian activists have set up tents at universities in Toronto, Ottawa, Vancouver and Montreal, following a wave of similar protests at campuses in the United States linked to the Israel-Hamas war.
Lawsuit against Meta asks if Facebook users have right to control their feeds using external tools
Do social media users have the right to control what they see — or don't see — on their feeds?
Princess Anne lays wreath at Battle of Atlantic ceremony; honours late Queen
Princess Anne saluted Canadian veterans and current forces members and honoured her late mother during separate ceremonies Sunday in Victoria as she wrapped up a three-day British Columbia West Coast royal visit.
El Nino weakening doesn't mean cooler temperatures this summer, forecasters say
As Canadians brace themselves for summer temperatures, forecasters say a weakening El Nino cycle doesn’t mean relief from the heat.
As storms moves across Texas, 1 child dies after being swept away in floodwaters
A child in Texas died Sunday after being swept away in floodwaters as storms swept across the state.
Nylander defends Leafs' core after playoff exit, Toronto again picks up the pieces
The Maple Leafs battled back from a 3-1 series deficit against the Boston Bruins with consecutive 2-1 victories - including one that required extra time - in their first-round playoff series to push the club's Original Six rival to the limit before suffering a devastating Game 7 overtime loss.