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Debbie Jimmy
Beaver in the Woods - Cedar Carving Mayo, Yukon - Northern Tutchone Father: Zegrab, Yugoslavia Mother was a residential school survivor, which made me a Sixties scoop survivor. Father defected from Yugoslavia. (Died when I was eleven) Miss him dearly. Growing up in poverty in East Vancouver, brothers and myself in/out of the Ministry care Mother never talked to anyone of us about her experiences from residential school. Left in the dark about the truth and not knowing? Always thought our family was disfunction, not understanding the choices or experiences our mother put us through. Never knew our culture or language, met only a few family members or any role models. Vowed to myself if I ever had a child I would give them everything I was never able to have. No child should go through what I had to go through as a child/teenager. The first time I found out Residential School was when my mother was going to be compensated from awful experiences. Right then and there I felt so bad judging my mother for our upbringing not knowing the truth until now. I understood why my mother made the decisions she did. Forgave myself and my mother. This summer 2023 I had a chance to learn how to carve for the very first time. And you know what? I really enjoyed learning our culture and meeting new people who had similar experiences. Will continue to learn our culture and understanding who I am as Aboriginal People. George Cuyler- Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, Zuni, T’sleiwituth Raven - Cedar Carving Self Taught Artist/Carver “Mask of Thunder”, Cedar Panel George Cuyler - Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, Zuni, T’sleiwituth Self Taught Artist/Carver Eagle Clock, Cedar Panel George and Bella - Heiltsuk, Nuxalk, Zuni, T’sleiwituth Self Taught Artist/Carver Wooden Clam Digger Tool Naina Varshney Sunflower - Cedar Carving Sun Mask: Collective “This is the Sunflower that Never Ends” Every couple of days, I sit down at my desk and sand for a few minutes. I trace the edges and the grooves and carefully run my fingers round and round and round, luxuriating in the textures found in the valleys and surfaces of the wood. It's been my new obsession of sorts as the season changes and I watch the garden I planted over the Spring wither away. To date, I have spent 60+ hours shaping and sanding this piece to its present appearance- a true departure in process for someone whose art is best described as the 'urgent gluing of things together'. I have never been one to sit with just one thing for a long period of time, always requiring a deadline or some sort of pressure to start and finish a task. My desk is an homage to the unfinished and could have-beens- the projects I wasn't able to burn through quickly enough until completion. I estimate I have another 10 to 15 hours left of sanding to go before I'll be satisfied by the look and feel of this piece. For gardening enthusiasts like me, Winter is spent reviewing, researching, and planning the season ahead. With all of the tasks required for a flourishing garden, the so-called bitterly cold 'off-season' doesn't feel that long. There's hardly ten weeks in between planting garlic in late October and scattering flower seeds in January... And so I welcome this change of pace- this gradual passage of time as I prepare for Spring. As it's slowly sanded smoother and smoother, the days will gradually become warmer and warmer until the tulips and daffodils start peeping their heads up to greet the sun. And then it will be time to plant a new. Nancy Johnson - Gitxsan Cedar Panel “Raven with Water Basket Cedar Panel” - "With childish delight he spread the water" Nancy Johnson – Gitxsan 3 Paintings “Raven Brings Woodpecker Through Blackhole” - Art Bolton's design, Nancy painted design “Raven Eating Berries” “Wolves and the Moon” - Art Bolton's design, Nancy used markers Andrew Williams Cedar Carving Josiah Amaya Cedar Carving Thunderbird Carving name: “Gwa’sala-Nisga’a” (work in progress) Sun Ray Carving Name: “Takush River” Jesse Johnson-Taylor - Gitxsan, Gwich'in, Cree Cedar Salmon Carving “Salmon Carving” - Jesse carved it with Lawrence Scow's (Kwakiutl) guidance Knowledge Keepers involved Fall 2023: Arthur Bolton and Corey Bullpit Artist in Residence Simon Daniel James Summer 2023 “Sun Ray Collective Carving” Debbie Jimmy, Josiah Amaya, Joey Charles, Nancy Johnson: “Side of Bentwood Box”, Edward Johnson-Taylor, Jesse Johnson-Taylor, George Cuyler, Andrew Williams, Simon James, Naina Varshney With thanks to Neighbourhood Matching Fund 
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