The journey of a kêhtê-aya (elder): kiskisi sôhkisiwin, tâpowakêyimoh, sôhkitêhê, nâkatohkê: Memorize the strength, have faith, have a strong heart, pay attention.
okimâw-asiniyiskwêw (Linda Young)

PhD Defence Exhibition
October 19 to October 27, 2023
Reception October 27, 4 to 7pm

With approval to move forward with her doctoral journey, Linda utilizes her background in art storytelling. Her doctoral research process is situated in Cree principles and beliefs that honor Cree ways of knowing and Cree knowledge that uses Indigenous methodology arising out of lived experience. This has resulted in a product produced and mobilized in ways that honour her upbringing. As a kêhte-aya/elder, Linda relies on memories of living and learning from her great-grandparents and her mom.

Drawing on her background as an artist, Linda has created four installations used to initiate each Conversation.

The journey of a kêhtê-aya (elder): kiskisi sôhkisiwin, tâpowakêyimoh, sôhkitêhê, nâkatohkê: Memorize the strength, have faith, have a strong heart, pay attention includes four bookworks/installations, multi-media, found object and cree syllabic works and a video preview of four recorded conversations with thought leaders on four topics.

okimâw-asiniyiskwêw (Linda Young) is Plains Cree from Onion Lake Cree Nation. She is a Knowledge Keeper, wife, mother, grandmother, great-grandmother, artist, and educator.

She was raised in a predominantly Cree-speaking Cree culture home. She lived with her great-grandparents until she was five and then attended Onion Lake Saint Anthony’s Indian Residential School for ten years.

As a multi-media artist, Linda has shown her artwork locally, nationally, and internationally. Her artwork is in the collection at USask; her piece kôhkominawak (Our Grandmothers) was included in the Remai Modern exhibit An Apology, a Pill, a Ritual, and a Resistance (2021), her piece wêwêpison (baby hammock) was shown in the Artivism exhibit in Venice, Italy (2019). She also submitted beaded vamps in the Walking with Our Sisters travel exhibit (2013 – 2019). She has collaborated in projects with artists such as Witness Blanket creator Coast Salish master carver Carey Newman, her son Marek Tyler (music), and her daughter Nahanni Olson (writer, poet.)

Lifelong learning is a passion for Linda; she is a USask alumna (BA’94, BFA’98, MEd’20) and is currently a PhD candidate in the College of Education.