kitthomasart

Last night I met an 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 started sharing the story behind one of the...

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 watched how...

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 creativity and lived...