Article 2 – Nurture = Nature

Christine McKay

As an Indigenous woman, I have been fascinated by women’s power for creation. The idea of “Nurture=Nature” started from the concept of “Sky Woman” in the Haudenosaunee creation story. The first woman who, with her children, helped the existing animals shape the land onto Great Turtle’s back. From there, it expanded to embrace the significance of all Indigenous women and their children in the continuance of shaping the land.
A young Indigenous woman is depicted wearing The Seven Teachings: Love, represented by the eagle; Truth, represented by the turtle; Courage, held by the bear; Honesty, represented by Sasquatch; Humility, represented by the wolf; Wisdom, carried by the beaver, and Respect, represented though the buffalo. The Seven Teachings would be passed from her to the next generation.
Historically, there was a lot of value in motherhood amongst the Indigenous peoples. Child-bearing meant empowerment, which honours women and their maturity. They raise children by using what the land has to offer to them. They also teach their children to respect the land around them, and they show them how not to waste precious resources that hold multiple uses given by the Creator. The face is detached from the body to display a night scene inside of her. Situating the young woman on the land with her heart connected with the land conveys the belief that Indigenous people are connected to the land inside and out, day and night.
Artist’s Bio: Christine McKay is a 24-year-old of Indigenous descent and a member of Pimicikamak Cree Nation. Her major is English, while she minors in Aboriginal Studies. Recently, she was accepted into the Bachelor of Education After Degree Program at University College of the North, and she will begin her further studies in fall, 2022.
From a very young age, Christine has been interested in art. Since the age of 18, she has expanded into various mediums such as graphite, charcoal, color pencil, watercolor paint, oil paint, acrylic paint, digital, clay, design for t-shirts and mugs, crochet, knitting, as well as some traditional mediums: beading and hide sewing. She has educated herself on the basic practices of painting and drawing in those mediums. Growing up in a northern reserve with an education system run by the local band, there was not much support or classes for students to express their artistic musings. She realized that she would have enjoyed an art training class as much as the athlete students who enjoyed their sports if only she had been blessed with the right support. In the future, she hopes to devote her artistic talents and time by offering art training to children and students of northern reserves that have limited access to art training.

Instructor’s Remarks: Christine McKay took two online courses with me during the pandemic: Critical Theory (ENG 4021) and Indigenous Literature of the World (ENG 3006). In addition to exploring the course contents online, Christine also attended virtual lectures. Like most students, she was very shy at the beginning of the term. The seminar course Critical Theory helped her to overcome her shyness of talking to her peers and instructor. She not only participated actively in discussions, but she also successfully delivered two presentations on her favourite theorists: Virginia Woolf and Roland Barthes. For the course Indigenous Literature of the World, Christine even managed to put on a virtual play: an episode of No Sugar, by an Australian playwright. Christine believes in the power of teaching and learning. It is no wonder that she wants to have her own art training class for children and students at reserves in the north. Her painting, “Nurture = Nature” shows us the power of Indigenous women. (Dr. Ying Kong)