Nêhiyaw

Bada Jean

Image Description": A digital abstract piece with bold, vibrant colours in a series of sloping, jagged lines and wave patterns. In the lower half, the word “Nêhiyaw” is placed in purple letters on a turquoise wave background.

Artist statement: In this digital artwork, you see bold textured linework with Nêhiyaw (Cree) syllabics. The syllabics read “Nêhiyaw”. The artist uses syllabics in their work as an act of reconciliation to take their language back from the attempted genocide of Indigenous people in Canada. She uses her language in her artwork to learn her language as well as inspire others to learn theirs. Without our young people continuing on with learning our language, culture, traditions and teachings, we can lose our culture. It’s up to us to keep it going. With this artwork, she wanted strong colours to symbolize our strong people, and the shapes to be interesting to the eye.

Bada Jean is a Nehiyaw (Cree), Dene and Welsh visual artist from Ahtahkakoop Cree Nation in Saskatchewan, and Tsuut'ina Nation in Alberta. She is currently residing on Lekwungen territory. Her work takes inspiration from traditional Woodland Cree Art as well as her own style in the forms of illustrations and paintings. Throughout her art, you see cultural imagery, as well as Nehiyawewin (Cree language). The use of Nehiyaw syllabics is an act of reconciliation - she is trying to learn her language through using it in her art. It is important as young people to keep our language and culture alive.