White Feather's Legacy

This showcase is a celebration of my family’s artistry and the ways traditional arts weave us together. Featuring three generations of Waganakising Odawa artists, White Feather Legacy tells a story of community, connection, and creativity. We all began our beading journeys after my nokomis, Rita Gasco-Shepard ba, walked on in 2008 as a way to transform our grief and feel close to her once again. Learning together along the way, each of us have developed our own unique styles and flourished in different traditional mediums. My mother, aunties, and cousin share their beautiful beadwork, weaving, applique, and more through their business, White Feather’s Daughters. I use my artistry and advocacy with QueerKwe Designs to create more representation for LGBTQ & Two Spirit Indigenous peoples by combining modern pride flags with traditional beadwork. All of this is possible because of the work my nokomis did to reconnect with her culture after being removed into foster care as a child. This showcase is a celebration of her strength, courage, and resilience that rings through our family every day.

-Becca Lynn, QueerKwe Designs