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
BREAKING Police investigating shooting outside of Drake's Bridle Path mansion: source
Toronto police are investigating a shooting that took place outside of Drake’s Bridle Path mansion early Tuesday morning, a source tells CP24.
There's actually no such thing as vegetables. Here's why you should eat them anyway
The rumours are true: Vegetables aren't real — that is, in botany, anyway. While the term fruit is recognized botanically as anything that contains a seed or seeds, vegetable is actually a broad umbrella term.
'It looked so legit': Ontario man pays $7,700 for luxury villa found on Booking.com, but the listing was fake
An Ontario man says he paid more than $7,700 for a luxury villa he found on a popular travel website -- but the listing was fake.
The Met Gala was in full bloom with Zendaya, Jennifer Lopez, Mindy Kaling among the standout stars
The Met Gala and its fashionista A-listers on Monday included Jennifer Lopez, Zendaya and a parade of others in a swirl of flora and fauna looks on a green-tinged carpet lined by live foliage.
3 Indian nationals accused of murdering Hardeep Singh Nijjar facing court in B.C.
Three Indian nationals accused of murdering Sikh activist Hardeep Singh Nijjar are due to face court Tuesday over the killing that triggered a major diplomatic rift with India.
Israeli forces seize Rafah border crossing in Gaza, putting ceasefire talks on knife's edge
Israeli tanks seized control of Gaza's vital Rafah border crossing on Tuesday as Israel brushed off urgent warnings from close allies and moved into the southern city even as cease-fire negotiations with Hamas remained on a knife's edge.
Canadian cadets rock mullets and place second at U.S. military competition
Sporting mullets, Canadian Armed Forces officer cadets placed second in an annual military skills competition in the U.S.
Highlights from the 2024 Met Gala exhibit: Sleeping Beauty would wake up for these gowns
Sure, she was a royal princess and all. But there’s no way Sleeping Beauty — either before or after her nap — ever had quite the fabulous wardrobe that’s been assembled at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Noelia Voigt resigns as Miss USA, citing her mental health
Noelia Voigt, who was crowned Miss USA in November 2023, has announced she is resigning from her role, saying the decision is in the best interest of her mental health.