b'COVER STORYT H E H E A L I N GPOWER OF ARTIndigenous artistC hristi Belcourt, visual artist,the people. By Millie Knappwithout fear. Thats the healing from it. Mother Earth protectorArt in and of itself is not healing unless its and Michif woman, seescombined with the ideas and the heart of Christi Belcourta restoration of land, language and culture happening across Turtle Michif ideas and heart regularly appear Island for Indigenous peoples. She spends reveals how herher time between Espanola and Nimkiiin Belcourts creations, which often depict Aazhibikong, a year-round language camp inhuman connections to Mother Earth and artistic creationsnorthern Ontario near Elliot Lake.the Spirit World. Her roots stem from the Mtis community of Manitou Sakahigan Belcourt recently spoke to She is Wise maga- or Spirit Lake (Lac Ste. Anne) in Alberta. can help promotezine on art as a vehicle for Indigenous peoplesTheir beadwork mastery helped the Mtis to heal from colonizations traumas. While artbecome known as the flower beadwork can be an important tool for healing, Belcourt healing in abelieves there are more layers to the process.people, and Belcourt paints dots to create the Mtis beadwork style in her artwork. Her floral wonders can be expansiveMy troubled world Art in and of itself might not be enough.Heart is Beautiful is 12 feet wide. Tens of But art combined with the resurgencethousands of dots make up the beadwork movement thats happening all across Turtleaesthetic, her cultural inheritance. Island will be, explains Belcourt. The healing from colonization begins when weIn 2009, Belcourt spent months on the all decide to exercise our sovereignty on theland getting to know the 50 plants she landto push the boundaries of colonialismpresents in My Heart is Beautiful. Plants 12Spring/Summer 2020'