Public Program

Studio Visit & Conversation with Ostoro Petahtegoose and Yakonikulanestka Evangeline Pearl John

Wednesday, September 29, 2021 | 7 pm – 8:30 pm

This even is free to attend. Registration is required, register here

Studio Visit features conversations with contemporary professional artists about their practice, projects, inspirations and aspirations. This Studio Visit features two artists, Ostoro Petahtegoose and Yakonikulanestka Evangeline Pearl John. Both artists will present on their artistic practice and projects and then engage in an extended conversation. The event will include a Q&A period for the audience, and is free to attend.

Ostoro Petahtegoose is a biracial, Nishinaabe of Atikameksheng Anishnawbek with European descent, born and raised in the traditional territories of the Three Fires Confederacy of First Nations, comprised of the Ojibway, the Odawa, and the Potawatomie, also known as Waawiiye’adinong (the place where the river bends – Windsor, Ontario.) Ostoro is an Indigiqueer, transgender, nonbinary writer, Goldsmith and multi-media artist who goes by “they/them” pronouns. Ostoro is attending the University of Windsor to finish their English and Creative Writing and Visual Arts BA and was the BIPOC Artist in Residence at Artcite in August of 2020. In June 2021 Ostoro has been given a grant through the Arts Culture and Heritage Fund to work on a research project on the Indigenous history of Windsor/Essex county to use in an anthology of short ghost stories, and is currently involved in a community consultation process with their band on a mural project for a company in Sudbury. In Ostoro’s personal and professional life they continue to work at finding meaningful ways to connect back to their Indigenous identity through the work of building relations while learning their cultural language Nishinaabemwin, all while being obsessed with themes of hauntings, ghosts and land.

Shekoli swakweku Yakonikulanestka ni:yaktakats ohkwa:li niwakuhtyo:tʌ Onʌyota’a:ka: niwakuhutsyo:tʌ. 

This opening sentence is a traditional introduction in the Oneida language. It states proper greeting of all beings, then states her traditional name Yakonikulanestka (she of soft mind), is a part of the bear clan and that her nation is the Onyyota’a: ka:(standing stone). 

Yakonikulanestka Evangeline Pearl John (she\hers) is an indigenous multi-disciplinary artist, currently finishing her first year of the BFA program at the University of British Columbia, Okanagan Campus. Being raised within her culture by going to ceremonies since childhood gave her strong roots in connection to Indigenous art forms. 

The first journey into revitalization began at age 13 when Evangeline learned how to raised beading. This passion guided her into learning more Indigenous art forms such as wood carving, cornhusk work, flat stitch beadwork, sewing, basketry, and more. Yakonikulanestka’s art has always been Indigenous-focused, bringing awareness to Indigenous issues, and giving positive representations of Indigenous Peoples through art. Most importantly, she devotes her art to the continuation and revitalization of Indigenous art forms. 

This program is presented by the Art Gallery of Windsor, Artcite Inc., Arts Council Windsor Region, and is funded by the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Part of this programming was originally intended as part of the Windsor MAYWORKS event series. We would also like to acknowledge the support of CUPE 2067, a presenting partner of the 2021 Windsor MAYWORKS event series!