Oxbow-born artist Emilee Steffensen has been making her mark across Southeast Saskatchewan this summer through murals, banners, and her Orange Shirt Day designs.
Steffensen, a member of White Bear First Nation and owner of Moonemis Cree-ations, said she wanted to give back to the community where she grew up and bring her culture forward through art. “I actually reached out to them last year. I’m doing something for the community just for it to be a little bit more diverse. I grew up in Oxbow, and so I wanted to bring my culture there as well,” she said.
Working with the town, Steffensen suggested a mural in the Oxbow Museum. What made it special, she added, was making it a community project. “I actually suggested, why don’t we do it as a community mural where the community can come out and learn, and also take part in that mural. So it was a huge success. We had a lot of people partake in it. And I am just so honored that I was able to do that.”
Her work has also been on display in Carlyle through town banners she co-designed with artist Dawn Faber. The project included a special ceremony to mark the installation. “I reached out to White Bear, that’s my community. I had a group, they were called Thundering Bear, they came out and did their drums. And then I had an elder come out, his name’s Michael Lonechild. He’s actually an artist himself. And he came out to do a prayer, and he smudged the banners. I got Indigenous cookers involved as well. So we had chili and bannock, and it just turned out amazing.”
Steffensen’s designs can also be seen in Estevan, where Tourism Estevan is featuring her Orange Shirt Day t-shirts. The design, featuring a child holding a turtle as a symbol of the world, is deeply personal. “It’s all about honoring the residential schools, the survivors, those that did not make it home. I go around trade shows and I sell my shirts and I reach out to organizations like Tourism Estevan if they want to buy anything, and if they want to sell them to their community. From every purchase, too, I donate 5% to the Orange Shirt Society as well,” she explained.
Alongside her visual art, Steffensen also creates visual land acknowledgments for organizations and continues to share culture and craft at events. Later this month, she will be at the Regina Heritage Center from September 29 to October 3, working with students on Indigenous learning activities.
For more on her work, Steffensen shares her creations through Moonemis Cree-ations, offering custom logos, bulk orders, and her own designs.