Charity as an artist’s creative resistance

By Kelly Anne Smith

KETTLE AND STONY POINT FIRST NATION— Charity is an act of creative resistance, according to Jacqueline Shaver. On her website, Arbour Glen Creations, it is proclaimed, “All profits are donated to organizations that help individuals living in poverty.”

Profits are from the sale of Jacqueline’s beautifully handmade pottery, pouches, linens, and beadwork she creates in her free time. She is a physiotherapist as well.

Jacquie has been sewing since she was a young teenager and applique quilting since her first child of three was born. She calls herself a novice at beadwork.

“After reconnecting with my father, [Greg George], and my kids did as well, he gave us our Ojibwe name. Mino Ode Kwe is my Ojibwe name, meaning good heart woman. Mino means good and Ode means heart. And Kwe means woman.”

Jacquie’s Indigenous roots enrich her life she says. For the artist, beadwork is a journey of connection to her culture, community, and ancestors.

“After reconnecting with him, beadwork has been a way for me to feel a little bit more Indigenous. It grounds me. And I’ve been able to connect with other people doing beadwork who are Indigenous on Instagram. It makes me feel like I’m a little part of a community,” she expresses. “My dad talks about our family often. Our family comes from the Potawatomi. They made the trek up into Canada. He always reminds me that our ancestors are with us. And with me. And opening the doors for me and guiding me in certain situations. It’s a strong belief for him and one he has been teaching me about.”

Growing up, she spent time with her grandparents on the weekends.

“I’m learning about my grandfather, too. He passed away when I was sixteen. He didn’t share a lot about his growing up. My dad has been able to talk about the farm his family had on Kettle and Stony Point and the land they had and how it was appropriated by the government and taken away from them. Learning more and more about his life is really important to me.”

Jacqueline says she is thankful her dad is constantly teaching her.

“He’s sending me posts from Facebook, or stories, teachings and it’s been really incredible to see how God the creator works in my Indigenous culture.”

Gravitating to beadwork, she says she is still growing into her own style.

“Beadwork is different for me. I’ve been quilting for many, many, many years. The one area of quilting that I really like to do is applique. It’s taking a piece of fabric and sewing on top of another piece of fabric. I’ve been doing that for 26 years. Beadwork is very much like applique,” she says. “When I started beading, it felt normal and natural for me. My dad was sure to point out that there is blood memory there and in everything that we do. When I started applique and beadwork, he said that’s coming from our ancestors.”

The berry bowls that Jacquie makes are very popular this time of year.

“This is strawberry season right now and then we move into cherry season. I delight in that. I take the berries or peaches and wash them in the bowl and then I store them in the bowl. The holes give them aeration so they don’t go mouldy as easily.”

On a quest for meaning, the talented artist asked herself what she could do to offer creative resistance to the systems that are in place. She is inspired to create beautiful things and donate the profits to help uplift people living in poverty.

“I started out with selling snowman pillows. Then I added pouches to that mix. Then pottery came along,” she recounts. “I have a house. I have my own car. I don’t have to budget money anymore for food. I have everything I could possibly need and I have most things that I want. I just don’t feel the need to to sell items to add to my own personal stash of wealth because I don’t think we should have personal stashes of wealth.”

“Generosity and kindness are what I value the most in people and so I’m always trying to aspire to that,” she continues. “Organizations need help. They need money and volunteers so this is just my way of being creatively resistant. You know ODSP and Ontario Works don’t offer enough monetary support for people. Our food banks are being used at an astronomical rate here in Niagara. Our number of homeless people is growing. The organizations that I send money to here in Niagara really work well for that population.”

Jacquie’s compassion seems endless.

“I’m using my beading money to establish a student award at the elementary school at Kettle and Stony Point First Nation. It’s going to be named after my grandfather. It’s going to be the Thomas George Perseverance Award,” she states. “Because I’m a physio and I work with people whose lives have been changed in an instant, whether from stroke, car accident, a diagnosis of brain cancer, a diagnosis of Parkinson’s. I get to work with these people who persevere everyday. Sometimes just getting up out of bed is difficult because they are not able to do it on their own. I also value perseverance and sticking to something.”

Jaqueline Shaver is also working to establish an award at both the highschools and for youth from the community.