Carrie Okemaw - Double Face Satin Ribbon 38mm - Black Kokom Flowers

About the Artist:

Tansi! Aniin (Hello). My name is Carrie Okemaw and I currently live in Edmonton, Alberta (Amiskwaciwâskahikan). My father is from Manto Sipi Cree Nation, Manitoba and my mother is from Berens River First Nation, Manitoba. I grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba which is in Treaty 1 territory.

In 2007 I graduated from the University of Manitoba with a Bachelor of Arts degree specializing in Psychology and Native Studies. In 2014 I graduated with a 2 year after-graduate degree in Education from the University of Alberta. I feel very fortunate to be able to incorporate different styles of traditional and contemporary Indigenous art into my teaching practice.

For the last 20 years, I have been beading and sewing traditional powwow outfits. Within the last 2 years, I started graphic design art and consider myself a self-taught graphic designer. 

My biggest influences include my late grandmothers and my late aunt Margaret Okemaw. They taught me the importance of knowing who you are, appreciating where you are from and to create art based on our rich cultural heritage.

Within my art, I embrace both my Cree and Ojibway cultural knowledge and traditional teachings. My most current art projects include traditional and contemporary art using digital designs. I am currently creating more floral textile designs and trying new art forms such as working with embroidery and acrylic art pieces.