Article 11: A Long Healing Process for My People: Indigenous Art and Narrative

Jasyn Lucas

Yellow Cedar Mask

I carved this mask out of yellow cedar during my time at the Studio Art Program at Capilano College in North Vancouver, British Columbia, in 2003.

The yellow cedar tree was salvaged by my art instructor and brought to the college. The extreme weather washed it ashore to the beaches of English Bay, Vancouver. My instructor saved the log and hauled it to the college. The space within the design of the mask: the outer edges of the mask is actual sand from English Bay that is glued to the actual mask.

I created this piece and titled it ‘The critical speaker.’ The mask is wearing its own mask with symbolism of “not speaking without being prepared.” This carved piece represents the times in my life where I could not speak of certain issues because I thought I had not yet received   the proper education to speak accurately and effectively on critical social issues. As a 60’s scoop survivor, the struggle with identity has often had me second guessing my position on speaking on indigenous issues.

A Bumble Bear

This painting is a daydream of a black-bear who has turned into a bumble bee. If you take this painting as a surreal one, you will read my unconscious mind. Imagining a bear as a bee with wings can be seen as absurd and ridiculous as if the two do not go together; however, if you think deeper of the critical relationships all beings have within healthy sustainable environments, that is not impossible. The health of our neighbours affects the overall health within our communities. So is the deeper interconnectivity we have with all of wonderful creatures on the earth. We all are attached or connected in some way. The background of this bumble bear is the dreamy environment where the spruce trees have been cut down, suggesting   the effects of human’s actions upon natural environments, which has a chain reactionary effect on all species.

Reclamation of Turtle Island

This painting is a daydream I have of the reclamation of natural environments on Turtle Island. I used the colors bright to reflect the vibrant joy within the flourishing environment.

Fighting Off Addictions

This wolf is angry, active, and determined to heal from addictions, but it is battling within the vicious cycles of ridding itself of the addictions. The wolf has a part of a snake body, representing the oil serpent, and the effects of globalization leading to climate crisis. The wolf uses addictive substances to numb its emotional pain caused by climate crisis, anxiety, and intergenerational trauma of colonization. The battle turns wolf into a butterfly, a symbol of change, a transition to sobriety – a battle the wolf is determined to win.

Gordon, Jay and the Survivor

This painting symbolizes the power of the artistic spirit between three artist friends:  two deceased friends and one survivor. The two deceased artists are angels who help heal a 60’s scoop survivor who is still battling the associated trauma.

Artist’s Bio:

Hello! Tansi! My name is Jasyn Lucas. I was born Jason Bighetty on May 3^rd 1979, in Flin Flon, Manitoba. I was adopted by the Lucas family and I grew up in Thompson Manitoba. I am a proud member of the Mathias Colomb Cree Nation. Growing up, my parents always took my sisters and I camping, so I love the outdoors, fishing, and swimming. Also, I love to draw and paint. I graduated from R.D Parker Collegiate in 1997 and moved to Vancouver in 1999 where I later attended the Studio Art Diploma Program at Capilano College in North Vancouver. There, I studied Drawing, Painting, Print-making, Art History, and Sculpture. I later returned to Thompson where I work as a full time-artist.

I also learned how to tattoo with the modern style Rotary Electric Tattoo Machine.  Tattooing has helped me become a well-rounded artist as it requires so much patience and hard work. I have worked as an artist travelling many places across Canada doing Art shows anywhere I could.  I have done tradeshows, festivals, conferences, pow-wow, and schools, all across Canada. I have had the chance to showcase at Vision Quest in Winnipeg, the World Art Market at the University of British Columbia in Vancouver, the 2010 Vancouver Olympics in Vancouver, and the Para-Olympics in Whistler, British Columbia, just to name a few. I have also owned and operated a Tattoo service and Art Gallery in Thompson called the Gift of Art.

I have donated much of my time to many schools and institutes, often speaking about or teaching art. I have also donated numerous paintings to some of my favorite organizations, including the National Institute for the Blind,Ducks Unlimited Canada, Canadian Cancer Society, and many more. I feel it is the one way I can help others raise money for great causes within the communities I have connections with.

The older I get, the more I realize how important education has been for me.  Recently, in the fall of 2019, I returned to school to study at the University College of the North in Thompson Manitoba.  I often end up with motivational speaking about art and teaching workshops within large groups. I thought that returning to school would help me become better informed when discussing important issues within my public speaking. As an urban ‘Aboriginal’ it can be tough finding my identity; so, emotions can run high depending on the unique social situations my work puts me in. I find myself being better informed in my literature and writing skills, which helps in that deliverance. 

Instructor’s Remarks: Jasyn Lucas is a popular artist known to Indigenous communities and the artist circles. Some of his works were published in Issue 6 of Muses from the North. While Jasyn working hard at his education degree, he was keen on looking for narrative for his art. As he expresses himself, “I want my paintings to be therapeutic, a breath of fresh air and stress free.” Jasyn mainly paints animals and landscapes. When I invited him to contribute to this special issue on “Truth and Reconciliation,” without any reservations, he submitted these five images out of his works and together with his interpretations of the images. As an editor of Muses from the North, I give our appreciations to Jasyn, a promising Indigenous artist. (Dr. Ying Kong)