Azby Whitecalf, pictured here in front of the mural she designed last summer in North Battleford. (Submitted photo/Matt Jacques Photography)

By Martin Martinson

Storytelling through art

Sweetgrass local Azby Whitecalf a positive role model for indigenous youth in the arts

Jun 17, 2021 | 2:21 PM

Leading up to National Indigenous Peoples Day on June 21 battlefordsNOW is featuring Indigenous professionals, storytellers, entertainers, artists and others. Stay tuned for more throughout the week.

Whether scratching doodles on the back of a notepad as a young student in school, or painting a life-size mural on the side of a building for a business downtown; for local artist, Azby Whitecalf, the arts have always been a passion they’ve (prefered pronoun) held close to home.

“As long as I can remember, I’ve always just been really inclined towards the arts, even as a young child through my time in elementary and then high school,” Whitecalf said. “I was always into art and in the local art clubs, and I remember I’d even get in trouble sometimes for doodling and not doing my school work,” they added with a laugh.

Growing up on nearby Sweetgrass First Nation and attending school locally in North Battleford, while Whitecalf has always enjoyed creating, it wasn’t until much later—in their first year of University at the U of S—Whitecalf began to think about transitioning their passion for art recreationally into an actual career, transferring to the Alberta University of the Arts (formerly known as the Alberta College of Art and Design) at the urging of a friend.

The rest, as they say, is history.

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It was there Whitecalf learned about not only new techniques and mediums to try, but also the history of the arts, and Indigenous artists making an impact across Canada.

“I didn’t really know a lot of Indigenous artists growing up, and then when I went to university, I realized just how sheltered [away] the Indigenous arts community was,” Whitecalf said. “I had no idea just how many big-name Indigenous artists there were out there until I was about 22, and didn’t know there was this whole world of Indigenous artists thriving throughout Canada who were so well-known.”

Whitecalf said that experience is just part of why, no matter where life may take them, coming back to the community to teach the next generation of Indigenous artists will always be something they relish in being able to do.

“I just love working with young kids and seeing all the younger Indigenous kids who are in the workshops, as I feel like I can be sort of a role model for them,” Whitecalf said. “Not to toot my own horn or anything, but I just know I would have loved to have had someone like that when I was growing up, just to see someone out in the arts field who grew up on the reserve and who is successful and thriving and living their passion.”

Whitecalf is currently in residency at Wanuskewin Heritage Park in Saskatoon. Those interested can see them at work Tuesdays to Saturdays from June to August, with their exhibition to take place this fall from October to December.

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Martin.Martinson@pattisonmedia.com

On Twitter: @MartyMartyPxP1