BIO:
Sgë:nö’! My name is Chelaine Sakalauskas, and I am Onadoga Beaver Clan. As a child, that was all I ever knew about my heritage. I did not get the opportunity to experience or learn the traditions of my culture. My grandmother was a residential school survivor, and like many others like her, did not have many traditions to pass down. I always wanted to learn more, but I never knew where to start. All I knew was that I wanted a family, and I wanted that family to know the culture I never did.
Then after years of infertility, loss, and finally giving up, I found myself pregnant. I was holding on to this pregnancy with everything I had. Being a high risk pregnancy, I had spent 7 months on bedrest. I took that time to begin my journey of reconnection with my culture. I made a promise to myself and this unborn baby that if we made it, we would learn where we came from together.
I almost couldn’t believe it but in February of 2024, I had my daughter. I had already laid the ground work for us to begin learning. I had found several inner city indigenous communities for us to explore. By the time she was 7 weeks old we were attending drum circles, cultural teachings, and even trips on the land.
My daughter is now almost 2 years old, and already I see the ripple effects of her early teachings. She loves drumming and dancing, and we can’t leave daycare without touching every tree on the way to the car.
These shirt designs I have created are made with her in mind. I know purchasing and wearing a shirt in solidarity won’t take away the pain that our ancestors carried, or bring our stolen sisters back. All I can do is share my art and hope that it will inspire change.
Over the next year I will be slowly releasing one by one a design inspired by the 7 grandfather teachings. With each release I will be sharing what I have learned about each teaching.
With each T-shirt purchase a portion of proceeds will go towards one of the organizations that helped me on my journey. ONWA (Ontario Native Women’s Association) is an organization that helped me in more ways than one. I came to them for their healthy babies program, but gained so much more. While on bedrest with my daughter it was impossible for us to afford rent and we began living with family. ONWA, with their housing program, helped us get a fresh start. One that I will be forever grateful for. Through their programs I have learned so much and formed many beautiful friendships. They have given me not only a home, but a community that has been so key in my journey to reconnecting. I can only hope that giving back to them will help reconnect more individuals like myself.
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