Young Artist Emily Kewageshig, age 20 of Saugeen First Nation, recently completed artwork that is displayed at Saugeen Memorial Hospital. Kewageshig also created a piece in 2016 that hangs at GC Huston Public School in Southampton. Photo submitted

Hub Staff

The artwork of young artist Emily Kewageshig, age 20 of Saugeen First Nation, now hangs in the newly refurbished Emergency Room at Saugeen Memorial Hospital in Southampton.

Kewageshig is currently enrolled at OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design) University in Toronto where she is on her way to obtaining a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree and is majoring in Indigenous Visual Culture. The artist who favours painting mixes between Woodland style and realism, recently graduated from Sheridan College’s Visual and Creative Arts program and said she was honoured to have her piece titled “Nenookaasi” displayed in the Emergency Room waiting area for people to see.

"Nenookaasi is a piece of artwork that I created custom for the hospital,” said the young artist in an email to the Saugeen Shores Hub. “The name of the piece translates to 'Hummingbird' from the Ojibwe language. Hummingbirds are very symbolic to both myself and my culture. They are often associated with eternity, love, peace, and happiness. This painting shows the harmony between a pair of hummingbirds and also a depiction of the tree of life. Overall, 'Nenookaasi' is meant to reflect an infinite message of healing and joy," she said.

Kewageshig also has a painting hanging inside GC Huston School in Southampton which she completed in 2016 to promote the idea of an inclusive environment for First Nations students attending the school.

“My goal is to create culturally inspired pieces that will preserve the heritage of my people. I am inspired by where I was raised, nature, and the people around me,” she said.

“My dream as an artist is to be able to contribute to the revival of traditional and modern Indigenous art practises. It would be amazing for my artwork to someday be recognized on a larger platform, and to be in a position where I can inspire other First Nations youth to pursue what they love," said Kewageshig.

The artist specialized in both acrylic and oil painting and is in the process of creating a new body of work. “In the future I would like to paint larger scale pieces of art, and possibly be able to do some murals within the community," she said.

Kewageshig said that the location of her Nenookaasi painting is important to her, not only because the Saugeen Memorial Hospital is a big part of the community and a place where the artist has been to herself, but also because it is the birth place of both of her parents.

To view or purchase more by Emily Kewsageshig she can be contacted via email at ekewageshig@gmail.com. She can also be found on Instagram @emilykewageshig.

Nenookaasi, a piece created by Saugeen First Nation artist Emily Kewageshig, translates to hummingbird and can be seen inside the Emergency waiting room at Saugeen Memorial Hospital. Photo submitted

More art created by Saugeen First Nation artist Emily Kewageshig. Photos submitted