My Story

Dineh k’èh Ddhälh kit Nelnah shǫǫsį’, nòodlèey k’èh Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé shǫǫsį’. Ts’òogot Gaay ts’änh diht’eh. Tthèe Tsa’ Niik ts’änh diht’eh. Amiskwaciy Wâskahikan dänh shih hǫǫłįį. Kwanlin dänh nìidhihshąąn. METULIYE Camosak tah huht’įįn. Shnąą Ttthìi’ Elgąy mǫǫsį’. Shnąą wunąą stsǫǫ Stsaay Ch’idzǜü’ mǫǫsì’, wunąą Nii’ii Jaiy, wunąą Laats’iih’ol, wunąą Gàan dànihtl’įǫ. Shnąą wuta’ sts’aay Sid van der Meer moosi’. Shta’ Wilfred Chassé mǫǫsį’. Shta’ wunaa stsǫǫ Helen Chassé mǫǫsį’. Shta’ wuta’ sts’aay Louis Chassé mǫǫsį’.

My name is Teresa Vander Meer-Chassé, M.F.A. (b. 1992, she/her), known affectionately as Ddhälh kit Nelnah, and I am a Nii’süü member of the White River First Nation of Beaver Creek, Yukon and Alaska. I am of mixed ancestry with Dineh (Upper Tanana), Frisian, and French heritage. I come to you as an artist, curator, and consultant. My work is inspired by the people in my life and those that came before. I was taught to bead by my Grandma Marilyn John, an Upper Tanana Elder and residential school Survivor. Knowing the importance of cultural revitalization my Grandma encouraged me to bead and sew at the age of eight, but I did not commit to my needle and thread until I was a young adult.

My artistic practice is invested in the awakening of sleeping materials and the (re)animation of found objects that speak to my identity. My artworks are layered in meanings, with the deepest understanding being accessible to my kin. In my work, I explore themes of grief, loss, family, community, and relationships. Please see Art section for images of past works.

I am also a curator with a focus on filling gaps and writing new narratives that highlight the importance of representation and visibility of Indigenous Peoples, particularly those from the North. My passion for curating came from my Grandpa Sid van der Meer who has curated his private collection of Yukon treasures at his home called Bordertown Garage and Museum. Please see Curation section for information on past exhibitions I curated.

Apart from my artistic and curatorial practices, I also enjoy short-term consultation work with organizations that have like-minded beliefs as me and need guidance in working with or for Indigenous communities and artists.

I currently reside between Beaver Creek, Yukon, Whitehorse, Yukon, and Victoria, British Columbia.