Expressions of the Sacred

Supervisor:

Aleksandra Dulic

Committee:

Michael V. Smith

Researcher:

Jon Corbett

“ Expressions of the Sacred” is a collection of portraits that investigates lost indigenous identity and critiques Canada’s historical and continued colonial and homogenizing practices of assimilation through oppression and induced self-oppressive actions of its indigenous citizens. Jon’s fraternal grandmother was Salteaux and Plains Cree but hid her heritage and did not identify as First Nations or Métis. She died in 2003 never revealing her true heritage to any of her family. His artwork in honour and respect of her history generates discourse by decolonizing and re-indigenizing displaced identity.