Keeleemeeoomee Samualie
I used to think when my late grandparents were carving that I would like to become like them and maybe become an artist. My late father used to say that we should start carving or drawing. Have you ever heard of the “Queen of Art” Kenojuak Ashevak? My dream was to be known as a “princess of art”. When Tim Pitsiulak, Bill Ritchie and I were at the Great Northern Arts Festival in 2014, there were many artists, musicians and storytellers who encouraged me not to focus so much on time or to think too much about the act of drawing, [but] just to be in the moment. Lately, I,ve been thinking of my late father’s late mother, she used to be an artist [and] she drew many birds. I’ve been trying to draw owls in a different way. Her name was Keeleemeeoomee. She was my grandmother, but she passed away when I was one month old. Whenever I draw, something invisible touches my hair, so I think my ancestors might be supporting me while I’m making art. I think somebody’s proud of me. I think of our late ancestors as our guardian angels. –