Melinda is a member of the Algonquin First Nation. She was born in North Bay, but lived most of her childhood in Alberta and B.C. before returning to Ontario.

As a McMaster University graduate, Melinda also pursued post-secondary studies in Art at the Dundas Valley School of Art and Psychology at Redeemer University in Ancaster, Ontario. She is actively involved in her First Nations community in Mattawa and has been creating art and music since 2001. You may have seen her art in several galleries in Ontario including Hamilton, Brantford, North Bay, Bancroft and Ottawa. Melinda is a writer and an outspoken advocate for children’s rights and has four children of her own.

Artist’s statement

There is fear amongst the people who live in Canada – in this Nation made up of many Nations – and fear continues to disrupt the relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people. Fear divides us even within our Anishinaabek communities. Fear of the unknown: fear of the differences between us; fear of relearning or un-learning things we thought we knew; fear of dismantling a broken system that is complex and long-standing.

We must lean into the fear; to rattle the bones of fear in order to truly embrace a future intact, as a Nation of Nations. We need to lean into the future together, to challenge fear and demand truth. We can use this knowledge to empower ourselves and each other and change this world for the better.

Reconciliation doesn’t mean we have to break apart as a Nation; it means we can come together as many Nations united, enriched with more knowledge; enriched with truth and reconciled as equals. It means we can see each other with eyes wide open and treat our children and our elders with care. It means that we will share access to education and health care. It means that we will all have clean drinking water. Clean air.

It means that when our kids go to school in the morning, they will return home in the afternoon and not disappear into the ground.

It means that we can teach our children to speak, sing and dance in the traditional language of their grandparents and their ancestors. It means we can raise each other up, and live in a Nation that is inclusive, fair and just.

Reconciliation involves truth, actionable change and restitution. There will be many years ahead of us yet, to determine what that will look like and we’ve only just begun.

In these two paintings, the Royal Proclamation of 1763 that covers the land states that these lands were meant to remain in our care and even those colonial forces would not disturb that balance. This land sustains us and has done so long before this paper with these words ever existed. The truth is, we need to protect our harvesting rights and our waterways. The truth is, we can and will protect the forests and animal populations to ensure the next seven generations will be able to sustain themselves and that nature will continue to flourish. The truth is, we are the only ones who can protect this land. We are the caretakers.