In 2018, I began collaborating with Yukon artist Nicole Bauberger in creating a series of Raven-inspired sculptural works. We were able to secure a Creating, Knowing, and Sharing grant of $50k from the Canada Council for the Arts to develop the work. We worked separately at first and created artworks that were in dialogue with one another. But that was short-lived and we wanted to create art together. In the summer of 2018, we created numerous works together and worked within community to develop the project even further. We created a 14-location scavenger hunt of works we displayed in private yards for public viewing. The scavenger hunt lasted for two months and were mostly located in Whitehorse, Yukon, except for one work that is on permanent display in Beaver Creek, Yukon at my Grandpa’s Bordertown Garage and Museum.

Community became an inherent part of the project as we hosted many workshops and still do! We have also exhibited the work at the Da Ku Cultural Centre in Haines Junction, Yukon (summer of 2018); Emily Carr House in Victoria, British Columbia (September 2018); Yukon Artists @ Work Gallery in Whitehorse, Yukon (October 2018); Grimsby Public Art Gallery in Grimsby, Ontario (summer of 2019).

Throughout the project I collected tires off the side of the Alaska Highway from Whitehorse to Beaver Creek and boy, were there lots! I found it to be a very dangerous venture. I would spot the blown tire, check my rear view mirror, pull over, stop abruptly, and scavenge the tire before another car came. The tire itself was very difficult to work with because it would get caught on my clothes, wrecking a few outfits. I washed most of the tires I found but I still couldn't get the burnt rubber smell off of them.

I wasn't entirely attracted to the Raven component because I find Raven is overdone in the Yukon, however, I could connect to the want to change Raven's image. Being an Indigenous person that does not refer to Raven as Creator or Trickster, I desperately wanted to reshape people's understanding of what Raven is and what it could be. I ultimately changed my own perception of Raven and began to refer to Raven as scavenger, finder, and protector and that Raven can teach us about community, cooperation, and resourcefulness.

For more stories and photos of this project you can visit Scavenging For Raven