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After years of moving between California, New York and Akwesasne, I’m once again navigating homelessness and housing insecurity. Losing my auntie, family conflict and generational trauma created a domino effect that disrupted the life and studio I was trying to build. I’m still creating, working and building my art career, but right now I’m also looking for resources, connections and a safe place to rebuild.

After my auntie passed away in August 2025, grief, family conflict and instability changed the course of my life. But even while my physical life remained uncertain, I kept building my creative life through art, storytelling, content creation, marketing and learning the business side of being an artist. This is a reflection on grief, survival, and finally choosing to build a life of my own.

A personal reflection on growing up Mohawk in Akwesasne, cultural disconnection, generational trauma, and learning what it means to carry identity, wisdom, and knowledge forward.

I recently finished reading The Theory of Crows by David A. Robertson, and I didn't expect it to affect me as deeply as it did. I started the book simply wanting to read, but by the end, I found myself thinking about grief, family, land, and my own healing journey. There were several moments in the story that brought up memories of my great aunt Gail, who I lost last year to bladder cancer. Grief can be strange. You can be going through your everyday life thinking you're okay

With the cast of The Two Worlds Project, including the actor who portrayed Kit, and playwright/director Ryan Howland after the performance at the Department of Theatre and Dance at SUNY Potsdam. Have you ever experienced something that made you stop and think, "Is this really happening?" That's exactly how I felt sitting in the audience for The Two Worlds Project, a documentary theatre production exploring the differences between rural Northern New York and New York City. As

article by JASON SETNYK A panel discussion hosted by Diversity Cornwall brought together transgender, nonbinary, and Two-Spirit speakers for an evening of candid conversation and community building. Held at the organization’s downtown office, the event featured panelists Rowan Wilson, Jade Thompson, Kit Thomas, and Stefani-Claire. Bruneau, who came out as transgender at the age of 53, shared her story of self-discovery and resilience. “I’ve known I was questioning my gen

"Sometimes recognition comes from unexpected places." Dreamscape Mixed-media triptych. Acrylic, Sharpie, spray paint, recycled bingo cards, varnish finish. Created in 2024 When Mohawk artist Dave Fadden reached out to invite me to be part of a group exhibition, it was a moment that meant more than just showing my artwork. It was a moment of being seen. As a contemporary queer Mohawk artist, my work does not always fit into the traditional expectations people may ha

These original paintings have traveled from gallery walls to my website. Featured at my solo exhibition at Nori's Café in Saranac Lake and the Brush Art Gallery at St. Lawrence University, each piece reflects my journey as a Haudenosaunee, queer artist working in acrylic and mixed media with recycled bingo cards. Read the stories behind the artwork, in a previous Blog then visit KitThomasArt.com to add an original painting to your collection. Looking for something smaller? Yo

1st homework assignment Best part? The course is free. You deserve this! 🫵🏽The systems don’t want us to think & support ourselves. ✊🏽 This course is changing how I think as an artist. It’s not just about making great work. It’s about building a sustainable creative business with multiple income streams, stronger marketing, and products that actually reach the right people. That’s the next level I’m working toward as a queer Indigenous artist and business owner. MIT designe

I'm bringing them home & having a mega clearance Moving sale. Sweet Deals! Drift (16" × 20") explores sapphic beauty through flowing linework inspired by the curves of the feminine form. Originally exhibited during my solo show at Nori's Café in Saranac Lake and later at the Brush Art Gallery at St. Lawrence University. Regulate Nervous System (11" × 14") began as a live demonstration for my Neurographic Art mindfulness workshop at Salmon River in collaboration with the Safe

The accolades recognize leadership efforts during Pride flag raising. Cornwall Standard Freeholder Published Jul 14, 2026 Kit Thomas, left, was one of the 2026 Denise Latulippe Award recipients recognized during the Pride flag raising ceremony outside of Cornwall's Justice Building. Speakers during the event Geneviève Thain, centre, and Richard Thain, right, watch as Thomas accepts their award on Monday, July 13, 2026, in Cornwall, Ont. Photo by Shawna O'Neill /Cornwall Sta

Last night I met a Non-Indigenous Caucasian artist who proudly told me they create “Aboriginal art”…. (Did you’re body tense up?) That wording immediately stood out to me. As an Indigenous person, “Aboriginal” is not a word I personally use to describe myself. For many Indigenous people today, terms like First Nations, Inuit, Métis, or Indigenous are more commonly used. Then she showed me her artwork. I recognized imagery connected to the creation story , so I star

Who Gets to Represent a Community? It’s a question I’ve been thinking about a lot lately. As a Two-Spirit Kanien’kehá:ka artist, drag king, and lesbian, I’ve noticed that certain voices, identities, and expressions seem to receive far more attention than others, even within spaces that are built on diversity and inclusion. I’m 45 years old, and I’ve been out since I was 19. Over that time, I’ve moved through different understandings of myself, tried on different language, and

Inspired by people who turn their lived experience into positive change. For myself, I was inspired by meeting Myles Sexton at a Safer Spaces training in Cornwall, Ontario, Canada. Myles is a creative director, stylist, TV personality, entrepreneur, podcast host, and award-winning content creator, but what stood out most was their advocacy. They use their platform to educate about 2SLGBTQIA+ inclusion, HIV awareness, sobriety, and authentic self-expression, showing how creat

What if your artwork understood something before you did? Discover how reconnecting with my ancestral creativity inspired Sweetgrass Braid and transformed my creative journey.

If your child came out tomorrow, where would you go for support in Akwesasne? There’s a tribal meeting tomorrow, and I want to raise something that can no longer be ignored. Our 2SLGBTQ+ community needs support. I identify as Two-Spirit, Queer and Lesbian (she/they). Pronouns matter. Like many people, I’ve explored different identities on my journey of self-discovery. That experience is why I want to help create safe, supportive spaces for our youth. I keep he

So the real question becomes this: if the community is already leading with visibility and care, what is stopping leadership from standing beside it out loud and without hesitation? Across Haudenosaunee and Mohawk communities, support for Two-Spirit and LGBTQIA+ people is already showing up in real ways, even when it is not always formal or widely publicized by leadership. At places like Six Nations of the Grand River, powwows and cultural gatherings create space where T

I've Lived a Lot of Lives... "I've lived a lot of lives. Artist. Drag king. Entrepreneur. Community builder. This is a little bit of how I got here." -Kit Thomas, Akwesasne Mohawk Akwesasne, NY '25 Hi, I'm Kit. I've been making art for as long as I can remember. I grew up in on the Rez, Upstate NY, Canada, and Memohis,New Jersey, but some of my earliest art memories happened in New York City. Every trip felt like an adventure. I was fascinated by graffiti, murals, stic

Ever met someone who can turn coffee-fueled chaos, community stories, and Indigenous entrepreneurship into actual connection? Yeah… it’s me! Indigenous business has never just been about selling products. It’s about people, relationships, survival, identity, and community. Storytelling matters because our businesses carry where we come from, who taught us, and why we create in the first place. A lot of mainstream business focuses only on profit, branding, and algorithms

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