Originally from the Kebaowek First Nation, Nika Paul is a graphic artist who draws her inspiration from her people’s history, oral traditions and archives to give shape to creations that are both militant and poetic. Through her art, she seeks to denounce, understand and, above all, convey the magnitude of the issues affecting her community.
“I do graphic design as part of an identity process that helps me reconnect with my Anicinabe roots. Art has allowed me to develop a voice when words elude me. It’s a way of expressing our culture, our burdens, the injustices we’ve experienced, our history, and above all the beauty of our people.”
With her background in Indigenous Studies, Nika uses her knowledge to tackle complex issues with strong images and bold colors. Her work is a way of bringing these issues to life, while inviting the viewer to become more informed. She sees illustration as a way of getting a message across, but also of showing that we can evolve, try and dare more.
Nika is also passionate about intergenerational collaboration. She is keen to work with the elderly to gather stories that will feed into her creations. Through her creations, Nika wishes to honor the Anicinabek, preserve the memory of her ancestors and make their stories resonate in today’s world. Her work is an act of resistance, a way of transmitting and reclaiming the Anicinabe presence on the land.
She also participated in MADAMIKANA – the crossroads – an artistic mediation project led by Minwashin to recognize and celebrate the millennia-old presence of the Anicinabek through 6 permanent public artworks across Abitibi-Témiscamingue.
