In my work I am exploring female Indigenous forms, investigating sexuality, female empowerment and Indigenous feminisms in order to take back control of our bodies. This is a way to move away from lateral violence caused by colonization and intergenerational trauma from Residential Schools. I hope to show a way to remove shame that was brought on from these institutions. I am also challenging the male gaze by using models that I know and creating community through the artwork. I have used many different media to investigate Indigenous feminisms and sexuality, including beading, acrylic paint, watercolor, pen and mixed media. Creating this exhibition has given me an outlet and allowed me to investigate Indigenous sexuality while avoiding the typical male colonial gaze that often falls on the nude Indigenous female form. I hope my art inspires Indigenous and non-Indigenous women alike to feel empowered to give respect and awe to their amazing bodies.

Jessie Jannuska

Jessie Jannuska is a Winnipeg-based interdisciplinary visual artist with mixed Dakota, Ojibway and European ancestry. She is from Canupawakpa Dakota First Nation. She has recently completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with honors from Brandon University.

Jannuska primarily works in oil, acrylic, watercolor, pencil, pen, mixed media, and beading. She has had solo exhibitions at the Glen P. Sutherland Gallery, the Arts Mosaic Gallery, a billboard with the AGSM, and has participated in many group exhibitions. Her work can be found in the Provincial Art Collection of Manitoba.

Jannuska teaches freelance art workshops in beading, dreamcatchers, painting and drawing across Manitoba. Her most prominent awards include the MAC Arts Leader Grant in 2021, and the MAC Indigenous 360 – Learn grant in 2019.

Jessie's virtual exhibition can be found at https://artspaces.kunstmatrix.com/en/exhibition/6989418/zhawenjigewin-mazina%E2%80%99igan-ndizhin-izha%E2%80%99amaas-love-letter-to-myself